Reading…

The Survivors. I only about a quarter of the way into this book but am enjoying it more than I did the Aaron Falk Series. I’m generally up for a mystery and when you add an exotic locations (Tasmania), it’s even better.

Watching…

C.B. Strike. I am a huge fan of the Cormoran Strike books and was excited to discover that the series is on HBOMax. Each book equals two or three episodes. It’s been long enough since I read the books that I don’t remember “who done it.”

Listening to…

You’re Wrong About Podcast. I think I saw this podcast recommended in a Facebook group. I’ve listened to a couple of episodes and have enjoyed them. Each episode addresses a moment in history and tells the story of what really happened. I believe the hosts are children of the 80’s and tend towards topics that were of interest at that time.

Loving…

Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager. I used an Amazon gift card to buy this after reading a strong recommendation somewhere. When it first arrived, I wasn’t so sure that I liked it but I continued using it and have grown to love it. Part of my inflammatory response to both shots of the vaccine was a headache that began at the top of my neck. This massager helped in my recovery.

Doing…

Sudoku. After listening to a friend talk about being obsessed with the Mastermind app, I decided I wanted to get back into doing Sudoku puzzles. I replaced the app I had been using on my iPad with this one. I prefer this one because I can use the iPad in landscape mode. I’m getting pretty good and can usually finish an easy puzzle in under 5 minutes and a medium in under 10. I could probably do them faster if I used the notes feature more regularly, but I think it’s good for my brain to limit my use of notes.

What have you been up to lately?

The post Lately… appeared first on Susanna Jane.

READING…

The Wife Upstairs. I had really fallen off on my reading habit. This book was a quick read – perfect for getting back into the habit. While I wasn’t all that surprised by the twist, I did find this book entertaining.

WATCHING…

The Equalizer. I was a big fan of the original series as a kid. This reboot doesn’t disappoint. It reminds me a bit of Person of Interest, but with strong female characters. It seems to be on a break until the end of the month, so if you haven’t been watching it, you have plenty of time to catch up.

LISTENING TO…

The Challengers Podcast. I saw Amy Brenneman on a talk show recently. Her podcast was a topic of conversation. I’ve listened to a few episodes; the best, so far, are the one with her husband, Brad Silberling, about his loss of Rebecca Shaeffer and the episode with Annie Potts. It’s always a bit intriguing to me to find out which stars are friends with each other. I never would have guessed Amy Brenneman and Annie Potts were good friends, not was I aware that Annie Potts had been in a serious accident in her early 20’s.

FOLLOWING…

The Perseverance Rover. I have been following the Mars rovers since Sojourner landed in 1997. The images from Perseverance are incredible! I can’t tell if there’s an official Instagram account, but I’ve been following this one. Perseverance’s Twitter account is also full of great photos and videos.

LOVING…

Melitta Cone Brewer. I recently broke my old pour offer coffee dripper. I was using my Bodum pour over coffee maker and French press mug, but the resulting coffee from both of those is not quite as good as the other style cone brewer so I caved and ordered a new one. I’m so glad I did!

What have you been up to lately?

The post Lately… appeared first on Susanna Jane.

Photo by Stephanie Krist on Unsplash

I began the year with the intention to post here more often. Unfortunately, it seems it wasn’t meant to be. My creativity has taken a huge hit this past year. The pandemic and other stressors wiped out all my motivation. At a certain point, I just went into survival mode and gave up on creativity and let my consumption of social media and television take over.

It’s been almost a year since things took a nose-dive and I’m feeling more hopeful than I have in awhile. I just finished listening to Beginners by Tom Vanderbilt and it’s inspired me to think about all the things I want to try. This isn’t my first list (see previous versions here and here) and I’m sure it won’t be my last. Most of these are things that I’ve explored on various levels but they continue to intrigue me:

• Kayaking, Hiking
• Dog Training, specifically getting Arlo’s Canine Good Citizenship Ceritifcation
• Hand Lettering, Drawing, Watercolor, Photography, etc.
• Punch Needle, Embroidery, Crochet, Macrame
• Golf
• Guitar, Ukulele, Piano
• Meditation, Yoga
• Gardening
• Juggling, Magic (inspired by the book)

In this episode of Armchair Expert, Jewel spoke about her mental health and making a connection that she felt her best on the days that she did something with her hands. That spoke to me. I used to be a voracious learner and was always working on something with my hands; but somewhere along the way I became a voracious consumer. It’s so easy to just sit back and let myself be distracted by my various feeds. Laziness takes over. I find value in social media, so I’m not convinced that I want to completely give it up. I have decided to take a break from Facebook and have removed it from my phone. I’m already feeling a bit more productive.

I’m hoping to report some progress in these areas soon. What’s on your list?

The post The List 2021 Edition appeared first on Susanna Jane.

Watching…

The Little Things. If you like your movies wrapped up in a bow, then this is not the movie for you. It’s one of those movies that when it ends you aren’t really sure what you just watched. It was so creepy that I had to watch a couple of episodes of The Middle as a palette cleanser afterwards. There are apparently a lot of theories about what actually happened.

Listening to…

Phoebe Reads a Mystery. I’m a huge fan of Phoebe Judge’s other podcasts Criminal and This is Love. She has an incredibly soothing voice and this podcast makes for a great bedtime listen. So far I’ve listened to The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Hound of the Baskervilles. I especially enjoyed the latter and am inspired to check out more Sherlock Holmes. I usually set my sleep timer to 15 minutes and if I’m still awake when it stops, I start it up again.

Reading…

Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning. This book makes a compelling case as to why we should all regularly try new things. In it, the author tries his hand at a variety of skills, including: singing, surfing, chess, swimming, and juggling. I have been thinking a lot about the things I want to learn (more on that later).

Loving…

Shea Moisture Chamomile and Argan Oil Baby Lotion. Shea Moisture’s Baby Shampoo is my current favorite. I absolutely love the scent. When I discovered there was also a lotion I bought two bottles. The scent seems a tiny bit stronger, but it’s still tolerable. I’m not sure if it’s this lotion or the air being less dry, but my hands are finally coming out of the horribly cracked state they’ve been in for at least the last month.

Wearing…

Columbia Winter Boots. My outdoor time has been essential to my happiness during this past year. As winter approached, I decided to invest in some good warm boots to make being outside in the cold more tolerable. I ended up with these boots and love them. They are really warm and relatively light so I can wear them on my daily walks. They are not quite tall enough for heavy snow, but the recent snow is the only heavy snow I can remember since I was a kid.

What have you been up to lately?

The post Lately… appeared first on Susanna Jane.

I didn’t intend to take so much time away from the blog, but 2020 was tough. I know in some ways I’ve been very fortunate, it just didn’t always feel that way. It’s been a struggle and I’ve mostly done the bare minimum. I know there’s nothing magic about 2021 but it feels like there could be.

Watching…

Nothing Trivial. I was excited to learn about a code for a free month of Acorn while listening to 99% Invisible. I discovered this New Zealand based show about a group and their weekly pub quiz while scrolling through the comedies. I’m enjoying it. I have to watch with captions to catch most of the dialogue. Unfortunately, the captioning isn’t the most accurate (including using names that aren’t even part of the show).

Listening to…

James Nestor on the Feel Good Live More Podcast. I found this podcast episode about breathing fascinating. I really makes me want to read this book and work on breath work. I’m trying to be more mindful of my breathing – taking long deep breaths in and out my nose.

Reading…

The Guest List. I’ve been struggling to read lately and currently have a plethora of library books loaded on my Kindle (set in airplane mode so as not to lose them). This one is intriguing enough that I hope it will break me out of my reading slump.

Loving…

The Budgeting Sidekick Journal. 2020 was a crazy expensive year. Between air conditioner problems, damage from a major ice storm, having to replace the sewer line, no yearly bonus, and a bit of retail therapy, I ended up down for the year. I am determined to rebuilt my savings and pay more attention to my spending this year. I hope this journal will help keep me inspired.

Thankful For…

Charlotte’s taken a turn for the better. My vet estimates Charlotte to be around 14 years old – pretty old for a lab. She had not been doing very well and I’ve been worried the end was near. Yesterday she perked up a lot and seems to be mentally back in the game. Yesterday she went for a long walk and did really well the entire walk. I’m so happy to have her mostly back to herself.

What have you been up to lately?

The post Lately… appeared first on Susanna Jane.

Watching…

The Morning Show. I’m about halfway through this series and it is so good. I love anything that isn’t super black and white. This show seems to be based on the Matt Lauer scandal. It finds itself in the messy middle of workplaces, making you really ponder the line between predatory behavior and consensual sex.

Listening to…

Brave New Planet. I barely have time to listen to the podcasts that I already consume, but when I heard Eric Lander on Armchair Expert, I had to add his new podcast to the rotation. He’s a brilliant scientist that’s interested in talking about the tough topics that need discussing involving the developments in science and technology. I think this one is going to be a regular in the podcast rotation.

Reading…

Transcendent Kingdom. I abandoned Hollywood Park. It was just too dark for me at this moment. I suspect I would like it at another time but, right now, if I dread reading or watching something I’m walking away. There is so much buzz surrounding Transcendent Kingdom right now. I haven’t made it very far into it, but if the reviews and buzz are any indication, it’s going to be a great read.

Loving…

Lifted Mood Super Strains Probiotic. I am still recovering from the antibiotics that I had to take earlier this year. Did you know that if your gut health is off that it can dramatically impact your mood? This probiotic has helped a lot. It’s histamine and prebiotic free which my stomach currently requires.

Wanting…

Tile Stencils. I have a few home projects on the horizon. I really want to try painting some tile. I’ve been on the hunt for tile stencils. I hope that all the blog posts I’ve read about stenciling tile are accurate in their success stories.

What have you been up to lately?

The post Lately… appeared first on Susanna Jane.

Watching…

The Last Dance. I’m three episodes into this documentary about Michael Jordan. I was a HUGE Bulls fan in the 90’s and am loving this – more than I expected. It’s been a fun walk down memory lane. I don’t know if I was aware of some of went on with the Championship team or if I’ve forgotten. On another note, I’m really loving Scottie Pippen’s sleep story on the Calm app. His voice is perfect for it. I wish they’d have him record a few more.

Listening to…

How to Breakup with Your Phone. I’ve been thinking a lot about my social media and phone use (especially after watching The Social Dilemma). This isn’t the first time I’ve read/listened to this book; it’s the perfect combination of inspiration and suggestions. I’ve deleted Facebook from my phone and other than getting on a couple of times from the computer to post a question to a group, I’ve stopped using it. My screen time on my phone was down 42% last week. Deleting Facebook, setting it to black & white mode, and just keeping it out of reach have been my top strategies.

Reading…

Hollywood Park. This memoir of a dysfunctional family is similar to Glass Castle, Educated, and The Sound of Gravel. I think this one might be a bit more depressing than the others, but it has the added fascination of cult life.

Wearing…

Madewell Remi Mule. Since I’ve been exclusively working from home, my shoe of choice has been slides. I’ve been wanting a pair of these mules and happened to discover that they were half off, so I jumped on them. I ordered two sizes. I’m glad I did because they run a bit small. I usually wear a 6.5-7.0 and I ended up with a 7.5. I suspect I will get a lot of wear out these. They are like dressy slippers.

Building…

Opalhouse Touraco Chest. I’ve been on the lookout for a cabinet for my studio. I pulled the trigger on this one last week. It was a bitch to put together, but I think it’s going to be perfect for storing some materials and my design books. It’s a pretty solid piece of furniture. My back is tired from putting it together.

The post Lately… appeared first on Susanna Jane.

Last week was rough. It was just one of those weeks where nothing seemed to go right. This week is going to be better!

Watching… Travels with My Father. When I first started watching this, I thought it might be too uncomfortable and overall too much for me, but after a couple of episodes I grew to love Jack and his dad. It was the perfect combination of humor and travel – two things that I constantly find myself longing for these days. I don’t think  the second season, set in the U.S., is the same perfect mix (reviews also dip for that season). I may skip to season three.

Listening to… Armchair Expert. I have been a big fan of Dax Shepard’s podcast from day one. I was sad to hear of his relapse with sobriety. This episode is so honest and vulnerable. I have never struggled with substance abuse,  but listening to him talk about recovery over the last couple of years has taught me a lot about embracing life.

Reading… State of Wonder. In Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert talks about the book set in the Amazon jungle that she was consumed in writing until all of a sudden she lost interest. The idea magically found a new collaborator in Ann Patchett. I was intrigued by this story but also love Patchett’s books. The are not usually quick reads but are always enjoyable.

Wanting… Friends Pajamas. I think Facebook/Instagram has been listening to me lately. I’ve been re-watching Friends and all of a sudden I started seeing ads for these PJ’s. So far I’ve managed to control my desire to buy a pair but if things don’t improve by Thanksgiving, I may treat myself to a pair. I also really like these Christmas Vacation ones.

Working with… Arlo (and on me). Arlo has been barking up a storm lately – in the house and on walks. It’s exhausting. I happened upon an episode of a Cesar Milan show this weekend and it confirmed my fears that my energy was not helping. After watching the episode, I changed my tactic and he’s been amazingly more enjoyable to be around.

What have you been up to lately?

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I’m back! I did not intend to take so much time off. Things are just so weird lately and I’ve been trying to focus my efforts on t-shirt design. It just hasn’t left a lot of creative energy for anything else.

Watching…

Cobra Kai. I LOVED Karate Kid when I was a kid. I devoured the first season of this follow-up series about Daniel and Johnny. Something big happens at the end of the first season that makes me think I’m not going to like the second season as much. I’m going to push through a few episodes to see if it improves.

Listening to…

Mandolin Orange. I’ve been listening to a lot of Mandolin Orange lately. They are playing the Ryman and Red Rocks late next year. I would love to go to one of the shows. I sure hope that’s a possibility.

Reading…

The Vanishing Half. I read this book in August and can’t stop thinking about it. It’s the story of twin sisters born black in the south. One leaves home and “becomes” white. It’s a fascinating story about identity and perception. It would make an excellent book club book.

Eating…

Pascha Chocolate Chips. I have been attempting to eat super clean for the last few weeks. I have been treating myself with mixed nut butter with a few of these chocolate chips on top. They are sugar and allergen free (most chocolate contains soy). Yum!

Loving…

This weather! Fall is my favorite time of year. I’ve absolutely loved the cool weather we had last week. I did lots of walking and even did a decent amount of yard work over the weekend.

What have you been up to lately?

The post Lately… appeared first on Susanna Jane.

Much like the clouds in this morning’s sky, August was a bit surreal and strange.

The post August Break: Day 31 – August Was… appeared first on Susanna Jane.