Happy hump day, everyone!
I tell you what, between Lincoln’s cold and him approaching a new developmental milestone (lots of extra singing and new sentences this week!) we’ve been having more late night parties than a frat house lately. My normal 7pm-7am sleeper has been needing extra attention overnight and to be honest, I’m wiped!
That said I need a few days to recollect and regroup, but was recently tagged in a fellow blogger’s “Currently” series, which I thought was super fun and lighthearted, so I thought I’d do the same here on IGE! Pick a few topics then share the answers with me in the comments section below!
Time and place: 2:06pm sitting at the kitchen counter watching the snow fall with a Grapefruit Perrier and a bunny that just hopped by the door, if we’re being thorough.
Cooking: Chicken Shawarma. I’d been craving Chicken Shawarma after eating at a Lebanese restaurant last week so I made this recipe a few nights ago and it was a hit. Lincoln even loved it! Now I just need to find an authentic tasting white and red hot sauce to drizzle on top. I made a tahini-based one but didn’t love it. Any suggestions?
Awaiting: Decorative Clothespins. I ended up buying a couple of the clothespins I featured in my last Friday Favorites, and they’re supposed to arrive this week – so excited! I’m going to put one in a gallery wall in our living room but don’t know where to put the other one. Could be cute near our message center, or maybe in Lincoln’s room to hold up his latest piece of artwork?
Experiencing: acupuncture. I went to my first acupuncture treatment this week (going for a variety of reasons,) and it was nuts! I’ve embraced a more natural style of living in the past year (or as my Dad likes to jokingly say, crossed over to the dark side,) and it was really neat talking to someone who practices traditional Chinese medicine vs a doctor who wants to slap a prescription on a symptom and call it a day. Of course a handful of needles sticking out of my body was interesting, but even more interesting was telling the doc which ones I felt sensations from then learning what part of the body it was connected to – spoiler alert: they were all related to why I was there in the first place! Have you ever had acupuncture? I’m going back for more treatments but have to say, laying there for 40 minutes with nothing to do was slightly torturous. Raging Type A here.
Working on: 7 Day Meal Plan. I’ve been working on a downloadable 7 day gluten-free meal plan with shopping lists for about 2 months now and am alllllmost done with it. It’ll be free for all newsletter subscribers so be on the lookout for it to come ASAP!
Reading: The Nightingale. I love WW2 fiction (All The Light We Cannot See is one of my favorites,) but so far The Nightingale isn’t captivating me. I’m only 1/4 of the way in so hopefully there’s a plot twist just around the corner.
Listening: Another Mother Runner Podcast. Last week I got to chat with the ladies at Another Mother Runner on their weekly podcast. It was so fun to talk all things running, gluten-free, and presidential hopefuls. (And just to add to my record, I missed a Hilary Clinton spotting at my favorite coffee shop two days ago, so there’s that.)
Craving: Sleep! Like I said, Lincoln’s been sleeping really poorly because he’s so stuffed up and has a cough that won’t quit, but he also seems to toss and turn when he’s on the cusp of a developmental milestone like learning to crawl, walk, and talk. It’s brutal going through it (hello singing toddler at 3am!) but it’s pretty cool knowing something new is around the corner. This time around he’s been talking in longer sentences and singing lots of songs. I’m exhausted but also loving having actual conversations with my little man!
Hating: the weather. Total cliche thing to say, but I am counting down the days until Spring – or at least until we can book a long weekend somewhere warm. Now if only plane tickets to Key West weren’t a billion dollars a piece…
Loving: iOS 9 emojis. I was watching Lincoln watch me through the monitor (totally staring into my soul,) a few nights ago around 1am and decided to kill time while he decided what he was going to do next (weep, sleep, or sing,) by scrolling through the new iOS emojis. Ummm, TOO much fun! Champagne bottle, pizza slice, and eye roll emoji, where have you been all my life?
Anticipating: Smoked Sausage and Chicken Gumbo. I haven’t made a batch yet this year and an impending snow storm is as good a reason as any to have a big bubbling pot of gumbo on the stove. Can’t wait to dig in later tonight.
Watching: Veep. I mentioned on Monday that Ben and I started watching Veep last week. It’s basically NBC’s Parks & Rec with a political spin and better writing. Super quick, witty, and so, so funny. It’s a must watch!
Promoting: the Super Bowl! I’ll be on KCCI News Channel 8 on Friday, February 5th demoing some of my all time favorite Super Bowl eats, so be sure to watch at 5:40 and/or 6:25 and/or 6:40am if you can. What are you making this year for the Super Bowl?
Avoiding: Target. I have officially resorted to ordering diapers on Amazon Prime. And ancho chili peppers. And vitamins, and tea, and a knife strip, and, and, and… I’m telling you – best service on the planet and totally worth the cost. I may never need to visit Target again!
Have a great rest of your week and thanks for letting me go off the rails today!
I was halfway through The Nightengale before I saw what the fuss was about. I almost put it down a few times and quit, but then all of a sudden it was really good and totally worth it. I was glued to the end.
I also enjoy historical fiction but just couldn’t get into Nightengale. I couldn’t finish it. Have you read Orphan Train?
I hope Lincoln starts letting you sleep again soon! I would give The Nightengale a little more time . . it gets better. Have you read Code Name Verity? It’s my favorite WW2 book.
I think most people drop $50 bucks just breezing past the dollar section at Target! Such a $$$ wasting place ~ which is why I love it and avoid it at the same time. Diapers online is a great idea!
When you go back for your next acupuncture session have your provider place a needle right between your eyes (eyebrows) on your forehead. Also being a type-a gal and getting all the squirms laying there, my first acupuncturist told me that is a calming point of the body, and it really helps. You can almost feel your whole body melting into the table. It makes the time speed by a little quicker. :)
He did that one, I’m just so bad at shutting off my brain and relaxing!
Don’t put down The Nightingale!!! The first half is slow, but I promise, it gets so good and the plot twist… Ahhh! I read it a year ago and let’s just say I am still thinking about it!
I currently have All The Light You Cannot See on my kitchen table from the library. I really need to get to reading it!
Hope Lincoln feels better soon!
The Nightingale was my favorite read of 2015! Stick with it!
I am ready for spring too! We order everything on amazon even toilet paper! Our prime membership is totally worth it!
Just finished The Nightengale. Keep reading. I could not put it down!
I have a hard time getting into historical fiction, but I may have to look this one up with all of these reviews! I’m intrigued by this idea of getting everything through Amazon instead of Target. I’m usually so last minute and/or impulsive that I can’t wait for the shipping, but maybe that should be a goal of mine. Seems a lot better for my pocketbook and psyche.
Thank you for putting together the meal plan for us! I get so overwhelmed by meal planning, and I subscribe to a planning service even! (Emeals and am not impressed) Everything I’ve made from you has been phenomenal, my favorite is the Brown Sugar Dijion Steak! Wishing you a full nights sleep soon!!!
I’m intrigued to hear more about the acupuncture as I’ve started using essential oils and am making every attempt to use them versus over the counter drugs. I think I’d have a hard time laying there doing nothing.
I know what you mean about using Amazon Prime – now that I have it, I rarely venture out as I look to order anything on Prime! The other day my husband was talking about a donut maker his mom used to have and he said he wished we had one, to which I replied “look on Amazon”. :)
I am currently reading All the Light You Cannot See for my book club and I love it! Also, with the impending winter storm here in the DC area, I am planning on making Ben’s Beef Stew :-)
I agree, don’t give up on The Nightingale. Also for another WW2 book check out Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. I promise it’s a WW2 book and super good. :)
I also want to add that this was a super fun post! I don’t typically read the comments but I did this time and found some really great ideas. Thanks!
I love historical fiction, as well! Those are two I’ll have to look into. I struggle with making time to read for pleasure during school, but I still love books. And that shawarma sounds completely amazing!
I’ve tried acupuncture before, not in a while because my symptoms have gotten better since having a baby, but I loved it while I did it. I love finding out what pressure points tied to different parts of the body. it’s the same reason I like chiropractic too!
I just finished The Nightingale this weekend! I didn’t like it at all while I was reading it. I thought it was long and drawn out, and like you said, I was just waiting for the plot twist. Without giving anything away, I can tell you that there won’t be a plot twist, BUT that when the end came, I really loved it. I think it came together beautifully. This is one I’ll definitely reread!
Currently: I’m really looking forward to hearing your Another Mother Runner podcast! They are my go-to for my long runs, and the fact that you are on there is some weird (but awesome) mash up since I’ve been reading your blog for years now! Very exciting!
Oh my gosh, too funny! They were like the best friends I never met – so easy to talk to!
How ironic! I just went to my first acupuncture appointment last night! It was super strange, but I also felt like a total badass since I am not a fan of needles. If nothing else, it was super relaxing for me!
Yesss, way to go, Hannah!
I absolutely love your gumbo. I don’t really like shrimp and cajun food is scarce where I live, so I’ve made this gumbo quite a few times and it is a HUGE hit.
So glad to hear, Steph!
OMG! I LOVE acupuncture! I just started in December for my Crohn’s. Holy. Cow. I love it so much!!! I feel so much better. That first appointment….wow. I have never in my life been that high and drunk at the same time. ALL DAY. Plus, my anxiety went away completely, I just feel awesome. I can’t even tell you how ecstatic I am. I had to hold off a bit on appointments. They are expensive! So worth it! (I just had a treatment yesterday, can you tell?) Also, if you are having trouble laying there, ask them to turn the lights off. I fall in between sleep and awake. I sleep better, I feel better, everything is just awesome. My Crohn’s has actually chilled out a lot, too. Did I mention I think it’s awesome? ;)
Hahaha, I love it!! Thanks for sharing your experience – I am excited to continue!
LOVED “currently”. It has taken several years to get to know you just through your recipes and comments, pictures and travelogues. It’s only natural that you feel free to flesh out your life through your blog. It’s like visits from my daughter….awesome! Good luck with acupuncture. It balanced my hormones….can you say grateful??
VERY grateful, I’m sure!
I also just started acupuncture! Treating for depression as I’m (personally) not comfortable with medical approaches at this time in my life (plus I have a corn allergy so finding a pill that can be compounded? Yikes).
I don’t really understand how it works, but I am seeing a difference already in my first two sessions. I feel more centered, less agitated, and there are signs my energy is coming back. I’m doing a bunch of other things right now to help with symptoms – cardio class for those endorphins, journaling more, less chocolate / sugar, and more vegetables – but the treatments have lifted the fog just enough that I can put those good habits into practice again. And that’s really what I was hoping to get out of it. Will be interested to see if I experience any other benefits in the upcoming weeks!
Thank you sincerely for sharing! It’s hard to find people in Iowa who’ve used this treatment so it’s comforting to know someone else is giving it a try :)
That’s so great to hear, Jennie! I’m glad you’re finding relief, and I’m eager to continue hoping I might experience the same. Good for you for sticking with it!
I tried the link to the shawarma, and got to a description, but no recipe. Cam you help with that– it’s on my must-make list!
If you scroll down about three long scrolls it’s down a ways!
I loved The Nightengale. I had read All The Light You Cannot See and really liked it too, but after reading The Nightengale, it became my favorite. The other WWII book that was really good, is Secret of a Charmed Life. It’s very good.
Loved the Nightengale! The last 30% of the book I could not put down!! It will pick up!
Have u tried the nose Frieda for your son it was a life changer for us b4 bed steam up the bathroom for 15-20 mins then do the “snot sucker”
Thanks for all great recipes and sharing life/motherhood
We have – he, of course, hates it, but it does work miracles!!
Love the post. It’s fun to get a peek at the life behind IGE! And I need to make a batch of that gumbo soon too. So good!
I love this post today – it really reminds me of your earlier posts here on IGE!
How do I stat receiving your newsletter?
Hi Beth! There is a sign up widget in the right hand column of the site. Let me know if you have any troubled finding it!
how do you make your omelets? Do you cook the veggies first, separately, in their own pan?
It’s unfortunate because I really want to love The Nightingale too! So far, I’m not into it even after all the rave reviews.
I just finished The Nightingale and LOVED it! Stick with it.
I really enjoyed your podcast with the Mother Runners. I have followed your blog for a while, but hadn’t read it lately, and after listening decided I needed to check it out, so funny, I just finished reading The Nightingale this weekend! The second half is much better.
I love this ! This post reminds me of your old-school beginning blog days . Keep more of these coming. The food can wait!
As if I needed any further proof that we would be IRL BFFs… This.
I too love WWII fiction. Have you read Sarah’s Key? That’s the last one I remember really sticking with me.
My girls just went through what might have been a developmental milestone, coupled with potty training. They too started talking in more complete thoughts, reading the same books over and over again (and memorizing them), and singing the same songs over and over again (so much ABCs and Twinkle Twinkle!). We also potty training New Year’s Eve weekend, so our good sleep-till-almost-7 a.m. peanuts were waking at 5:30 or earlier! Then this week, they’re both sick with the stomach flu (along with Daddy) and going to be easily around 8 p.m. and sleeping til about 6:30 a.m. *sigh* I’m running on fumes, man.
Anyway, hope Lincoln gets his groove back, and hope your book gets better!
Hugs!
Sarah’s Key was one of my faves!! And too funny about the early morning wakeup call – today was 5:45am with Twinkle Twinkle – argh! Hope you get some sleep girl!!
I am loving this idea for a blog post!! Might have to do it myself! The thought of avoiding Target.. don’t think that’ll ever happen to me! I get sucked in to that place.
http://www.kelseymarie.co
Don’t quit on The Nightingale! It does start slow, but then I couldn’t put it down and it was one of my favorite books from last year. I also loved All the Light and found it hard to get into in the beginning as well. Trust me, The Nightingale is worth it, too! Have you read The Book Thief and Sarah’s Key? Also WWII fiction. Both were very good. The Book Thief was another in my top 5 from last year.
Sarah’s Key is one of my favorite books but I haven’t read The Book Thief. On my list now!
I’ve been doing acupuncture for two years. I’m a type A and it took some time to adjust to relaxing and enjoying the experience. Now I fully embrace it and it is my place of zen. It also makes me feel amazing for days and helps with the aches & pains!
I’ve done acupuncture and I always bring my ereader so I have something to read during that time. It helps pass the time, that’s for sure. My daughter talked me into going. I went to get treatment for a chronic cough that I’ve had for about 40 years. Yep, 40 years. Every doctor I went to see about it over the decades either didn’t help or actually made it worse. After about 5-8 treatments with the acupuncturist it was gone. Sometimes during the really cold months I’ll go back for a “touch up” treatment and he gets rid of the cough when it starts flaring up again. Nuts, huh?
That is seriously unbelievable and I get goosebumps hearing stories like yours. So glad you finally (finally!) found relief after all those years!
If you find a good white sauce recipe, please share it! I love shwarma, but I haven’t found a white sauce recipe that I can make.
I LOVED the Nightingale – stick with it! :)
Acupuncture has never really done much for me, though it is relaxing. I do like my chiropractor, however! “Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania” was the best book I read in 2015. It’s non-fiction but written like a novel. It’s set during WWI. I’ll check out The Nightingale.
I recently began going to acupuncture after it was recommended by my fertility doctor. I don’t know yet if it will lead to the positive outcome we’re hoping for, but at least it’s an hour during my week to turn off my brain. Easier said than done, I know!
Have you tried the Vic’s Vaporub on Lincoln’s feet bottoms, then put on socks before bed? My daughter does this with the grandson’s and it seemed to work to slow that night-time cough down. Many of her friends recommended it…apparently this isn’t a new idea but, I’d never heard of it. Linda
Follow Dan’s Deals and Krazy Koupon Lady and they are always posting awesome diaper deals on Amazon prime that are hidden! I haven’t paid more than $17 for 170 diapers in six months!
Ha – realized this sounds like an ad! I’ve never met either Dan or Krazy ;)!
Oh my golly, I love those giant clothespins. So cute and so many great things you can do with them! Thanks for a great post:)
Would the Lebanese restaurant be Open Sesame? My husband and I love that place!
I made that gumbo this weekend. Perfect winter food. I swear it gets even better the next day. My anti rice husband eats his over mashed potatoes.
I have to say I’m really disappointed in your comment about doctors “slapping a prescription on it”. Being a doctor I try very hard to not only be educated and up to date on medications- which my patients expect of me- but also to be up to date on wellness, and nutrition. I’ve been following your blog for years for recipes. I refer Celiac patients here regularly. I realize that all is not perfect in western medicine, but only a few bad eggs are that flippant. Most of us have big hearts who sacrificed more than a decade of our lives learning to help others. We care what people think because we care about giving our best. I think you empower people to take charge of the things they can control for their health, and so do I daily. And so do the vast majority of my colleagues. Our culture as a whole needs to get away from trying to take the easy way out when it comes to our health, but I can promise you that the majority of doctors care very much about people getting healthy with the goal of not needing medications in mind.
Of course, and I’m sorry if my comment was insensitive! I was more referring to doctors I’ve personally seen vs doctors in general – a thought bubble that was happening in my mind that maybe I should typed out for clarification. I 100% respect and admire all that you do!
I’m a total believer in acupuncture! Though I used to keep my phone in my pocket so when the acupuncturist left the room I could play games haha. Now I have 2 kids and I pretty much always fall asleep during that time !