It’s been a wonderful, crazy week. We’ve had snow and rain over the past few days, and on Wednesday especially, the city turned into a winter wonderland. It was beautiful. I’ve been keeping my head above water with a lot on my plate: it’s easy to forget how intense final exams can be and how just about everyone is busy both professionally and personally at this time of year. Even as frenetic as the days can be, I really, really like what I’m doing and studying and consider myself lucky.
I ran a 5k with my sisters last weekend and tagged along with a running group from my program yesterday morning. We’re toying with Christmas routines and introducing traditions with the kids (still hit or miss here, though, except I think baking Christmas cookies together is a winner). David and I also had the chance to head out to dinner together last night, something we’ve been successfully able to do at least once a month since the school year started. Something that has been delightfully absent: stressful, high-pressure shopping trips or last-minute online orders… we are going so low key with gifts this year. So all in all, I think we’re not just hanging in there but having a great holiday season.
Here’s what else I’ve been up to this week:
What I’m Reading this Week
This great account (Wendy Mac) on Instagram
I don’t know who Hank Green is, but this video was recommended to me: Things Hank Green wants you to know about writing.
I love end-of-year lists and planning and looking ahead at the new year. This time around, we have a whole decade we’re wrapping up, which I kind of forgot about until I read this: 26 books from the last decade that you should read.
These seem beautiful and almost doable for a future craft project, when I’m not careening through finals week: Crepe paper poinsettia tutorial.
What I’m Cooking this Week
Weekly Menu Plan (in case you need ideas or inspiration):
Sunday: Pasta e fagioli soup — made by David, it’s one of his favorites (Cook’s Illustrated, behind paywall)
Monday: White wine-braised chicken with artichokes and orzo (Half-Baked Harvest’s Super Simple cookbook)
Tuesday: Dinner at a working meeting (take-out Tex-Mex)
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Chicken with pan-sauce and roasted Brussels sprouts, garlic bread
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Dinner out with David at Orfano
