recently i'm... [29]

Reading: I read Mindy Kaling's book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) and gave it 4/5 stars. There are parts that are laugh-out-loud funny, but there are also poignant gems throughout. One of my favorite parts:

"As it is, I guess I find "Jack & Diane" a little disgusting. [...] I can't help but notice the wasteful frivolity of it all. Why are these kids not home doing their homework? Why aren't they setting the table for dinner or helping out around the house? Who allows their kids to hang out in parking lots? Isn't that loitering? [...] In high school, I had fun in my academic clubs, watching movies with my girlfriends, learning Latin, having long, protracted, unrequited crushes on older guys who didn't know me, and yes, hanging out with my family. I liked hanging out with my family! Later, when you're grown up, you realize you never get to hang out with your family. You pretty much have only eighteen years to spend with them full time, and that's it. So, yeah, it all added up to a happy, memorable time."

I'm also re-reading The Book Thief and loving every second of it. If you still haven't read this book, just drop what you're doing (I mean, maybe don't drop your laptop) and get this book immediately.

Listening to: Big surprise, I'm still listening to Mumford & Sons on repeat most days (they're just my favorite driving music!). Lest you think I never listen to anything else, I'm also spellbound by "We Don't Eat" by James Vincent McMorrow, digging Of Monsters and Men (esp. "Mountain Sound"), and I'm probably really late onto this whole Madilyn Bailey scene, but her rendition of "Titanium" is gorgeous.

Watching: May as well totally fess up to my Mindy Kaling crush because I am loving The Mindy Project. Also, a couple weekends ago, Doug & I rented October Baby. I remembered hearing about it vaguely because it's about adoption. Guys. It. Was. AWFUL. I  don't know what I was expecting, and I can't believe I watched the whole thing, but it was like I couldn't stop torturing myself.

Cooking: The other night I was scrambling for dinner plans, decided to go with chicken, went to SkinnyTaste and searched "chicken" and clicked the first thing that caught my attention - balsamic chicken with roasted veggies. I substituted a few of the veggies and used dry spices because I didn't just have fresh rosemary or sage (I know, what's my problem?). SO good. I love her recipes because they're so easy! Oh, and I made these peanut butter pretzel globs again. Sweet mercy.

Crafting: I'm so excited about our church's women's outreach (it's not until April). We are organizing some DIY groups right now, and one of my projects is burlap bunting. So obviously I had to experiment and make myself one first!

Excited about: going home for Thanksgiving.

Thankful for: Family. Friends. The power of the Cross. There is just too much to list. Learning to be thankful in all seasons of life. I want to be able to echo Paul's words in Philippians 4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

Clinging to: a variety of Scripture. Philippians 4:4 (above). Isaiah 43:1-5. Hebrews 4:14-16.