What I’ve been reading, watching, making, and otherwise doing for the past 3 months!
From June–July, I spent most of my very limited free time either reading or struggling through a new fitness program. Almost all my energy has been devoted to my job. I feel like nothing in my personal life is getting the attention it should be getting — my hobbies, my house, my friends, my family. I’m tired, boss.
Books + Media
Finished
Books
- Audiobook – A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr., 1959
- Audiobook – The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. Franklin, 2024
- Audiobook – Let’s Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World by Danielle Friedman, 2023
- Audiobook – What to Eat Now: The Indispensable Guide to Good Food, How to Find It, and Why It Matters by Marion Nestle, 2025
- Audiobook – The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, 1922
- Book – American Royals by Katharine McGee, 2019
- Book – The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan, 2024
- Book – Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England, 2026
- Book – Homebody by Joanna Gaines, 2018
- Book – The Journals of Lewis and Clark by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, 1806
- Cookbook – Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan, 2010
- Cookbook – Baking with Dorie by Dorie Greenspan, 2021
- Cookbook – Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson, 2021
- Cookbook – Family Thai by Arnold Myint, 2025
- Cookbook – The Homesick Texan Cookbook by Lisa Fain, 2011
- Cookbook – House of Nanking by Kathy + Peter Fang, 2025
- Cookbook – Mamushka by Olia Hercules, 2015
- Cookbook – New Native Kitchen by Freddie Bitsoie, 2021
- Cookbook – Salad for President by Julie Sherman, 2017
- Cookbook – Saucy by Ashley Boyd, 2024
- Cookbook – The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins, 1982
- Cookbook – Third Culture Cooking by Zaynab Issa, 2025
- Cookbook – Tin to Table by Anna Hezel, 2023
- Cookbook – Veg Forward by Susan Spungen, 2023
- Book series – Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, 2020–TBD; books 1–3
- Book series – Redwall by Brian Jacques, 1986–2011; books 1–3 [reread]
- Book series – The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, 2010–TBD; book 1 [reread]
Media
- Movie – 1776 starring William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard, et al, 1972
- Movie – Chicago starring Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Richard Gere, 2002
- Movie – The Devil Wears Prada starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, 2006
- Movie – Emma starring Anya Taylor-Joy, 2020
- Movie – Hamilton starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom, Jr., Daveed Diggs, et al, 2020
- Movie – The Mandalorian and Grogu starring Pedro Pascal, 2026
- TV series – Andor starring Denise Gough, Diego Luna, Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgård, et al., 2022–2025
In progress
Books
- Book – Roar by Stacy T. Sims, 2024
- Book – On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee, 1984
- Book – Science of Strength Training by Austin Current, 2021
- Book – Science of Stretch by Leada Malek, 2023
- Cookbook – Japanese Comfort Cooking by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat, 2026
- Book series – Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, 2020–TBD; book 4
- Book series — The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, 2010–TBD; book 2 [reread]
Media
- TV series – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds starring Anson Mount, Babs Olusanmokun, Celia Rose Gooding, Christina Chong, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Melissa Navia, and Rebecca Romijn, 2022–TBD
- TV series – My 600 lb Life starring Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, 2012–2025
- Podcast – The Dinner Plan hosted by Maggie Hoffman, 2024–TBD
Food + Health
Finished
Cooking
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis, 2023
Anadama bread; Cowboy cookies; Magic peanut butter cookies; Mock apple pie; Ricciarelli - Cookbook cook-thru project – Methodist Morsels by the Cookbook Committee of the First United Methodist Church of Lamesa, Texas, 1983
Chocolate caramel bars - Cookbook cook-thru project – Pirate’s Pantry by the Junior League of Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1976
Creole jambalaya - Cookbook cook-thru project – Japanese Comfort Cooking by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat, 2026
Avocado-arugula salad; Cold sesame soba; Nasu dengaku - Cookbook cook-thru project – Cook’s Illustrated All-Time Best French Recipes special ed., 2018
French chicken in a pot; Quick chicken fricassée - Cookbook cook-thru project – Cook’s Illustrated All-Time Best Side Dish Recipes special ed., 2018
New England baked beans; Sautéed summer squash
- Tuna pasta casserole from Betty Crocker Cookbook by Betty Crocker [brand]
- Chicken Parmesan with broccoli and penne from Ninja Foodi by Ninja Foodi [brand]
- Teriyaki chicken with broccoli and rice from Ninja Foodi by Ninja Foodi [brand]
Dining + Drinks
- Dined out – Cheddar’s in Houston, Texas
- Dined out – Eric’s in Houston, Texas
- Dined out – Hugo’s in Houston, Texas
- Dined out – Villa Capri on Clear Lake in Houston, Texas
Fitness
- Walking, 4.5 hours (20 miles)
- Strength training, 21 hours
- The Conqueror “Conquer 2026” annual challenge — 237 total miles
In progress
Cooking
- NEW: Cookbook cook-thru project – Japanese Comfort Cooking by Tadashi Ono and Harris Salat, 2026
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Baking Yesteryear by B. Dylan Hollis, 2023
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Dining In by Alison Roman, 2017
- Cookbook cook-thru project – The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science by J. Kenji López-Alt, 2015
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Methodist Morsels by the Cookbook Committee of the First United Methodist Church of Lamesa, Texas, 1983
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Pirate’s Pantry by the Junior League of Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1976
- Cookbook cook-thru project – Cook’s Illustrated All-Time Best French Recipes, […] Hot and Spicy Recipes, […] Side Dish Recipes special eds., 2018
- Magazine clippings cook-thru project
Dining + Drinks
- Wine tasting project – Wine Folly by Madeline Puckette, 2015
Fitness
- The “Thinner Leaner Stronger” 3-day routine
- The Conqueror “Conquer 2025” annual challenge
How was your month? Tell me if you’ve read, made, or done anything particularly interesting!
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