Alabama + Graffiti

(linking up with Steph and Jana for SUYB)

The Sanatorium – Sarah Pearse // Oh wow.  I really liked this book – I was honestly hooked by page 10, and couldn’t stop it.  I loved all the characters and how they wove into each other – I loved the underlying family dynamic part of this book, and it even gave you a cheeky little epilogue.   It had that all alone in the wilderness vibe that makes the book extra creepy for me, which is always a plus.  Definitely recommend!!

The Lost Apothecary – Sarah Penner // Another really, really good one.  This one was so interesting!  I loved Caroline and Gaynor and Nella and Eliza – all strong, bad ass females.  I loved how the story went back and forth between England late 1700s, and present day, and I loved the mystery woven into the story.  It was just really really good, and I’m glad virtual book club made this pick.

Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller // Man, can she write a mythology book.  This was so good.  I did not know of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, and this book put you right there.  The book is told from the viewpoint of Patroclus, and you can feel everything he feels.  It was incredibly well-written – detailing how the relationship developed as they were young boys and through the Trojan War.  I’ll be in a book hangover over this one for quite awhile.

The Last Victim – Jason Moss // One of B’s coworkers, who has become a true-crime friend, told me about this book.  We share good true-crime podcasts, documentaries, etc, and he sent me this book.  This author sent out letters to infamous serial killers – Gacy, Ramirez, Manson – to try to get into their brains.  He actually found himself sitting next to Gacy in prison weeks before his execution.  This book is incredibly graphic and at some times disturbing, so if that bothers, you skip it.  Definitely an interesting and super creepy read.

Black Buck – Mateo Askaripour // I flew through this book – it was so good.  I loved how real the whole book felt the entire time.  Darren is such a well-thought out character, and his supporting cast of characters and even the tiny twist at the end was just well-written and interesting.  Loved this one.

Galatea – Madeline Miller // A super-super short story, but Madeline Miller owns my mythology loving ass.  A statue who was blessed by the gods and became alive and gave birth – she does what she needs to save her child.  I need more from her!

Pretty Things – Janelle Brown // I really liked this one – I was worried at first since it was a bit long, but it kept my interest the whole time.  I loved Nina, and how she came into her own throughout this whole book.  I really like how the story came full circle, and Nina’s realization how the person you trust the most can sometimes be the complete opposite.

On Friday after work, Sheff and I headed over to our friends house.  She had baked me my grandma’s coconut cake for mother’s day, and y’all, she did such a good job.  I have never been able to quite get it just like hers, but she nailed it on the first try.  We ended up staying and ordering pizza for dinner while the kids played outside.  B joined us just in time to bring the pizza over.  The kids celebrated the weekend with Shirley Temples.  Sheff and I left a little before Bennett – we got home and immediately into pajamas.  I watched Free Willy, and got all the nostalgia feels – my sister and I used to watch the VHS on repeat.  They don’t make movies like this anymore!

Saturday morning, we woke up and got ready for Sheff’s ballgame.  Unfortunately, they only had five players, and put up a good fight, but came just short.  It’s hard to get kids out when you don’t have a lot of kids on the field!!  They played their little hearts out, and Sheff got to be pitcher again, so he was excited.  He had some pretty good hits, and almost caught a fly ball.  After that, Sheff and I met my sister for lunch at Cajun Boys down by where she lives.  It was so good and so much food.  After that, we did a little shopping and then came on home.  B had made an earlier mother’s day dinner of steaks and poatos, since we were headed to his parents house on Sunday.  We ended the night getting caught up on Handmaid’s, and went to bed.

Sunday, I got up early to get a ride in before heading down to B’s parents.  My boys got me the picture printer that I really wanted, and Sheff’s hand-written cards were perfect.  In Montgomery, we played outside and grilled burgers, and I even got a semi-decent picture with my kid.  The one below is super edited, but I had a fun time with it.  And this is pretty much our relationship anyway!!  Him rolling his eyes at me, and me trying to get him to pay attention!  We got stuck in a big wreck on the way home, so it took us about 45 minutes more than normal to make it.  B got me sushi, we watched some Schitts Creek, and went to bed.

Being a mom is super hard  – there is no denying that.  But it is so rewarding.  I love watching him grow – and I love watching his little personality shine through.  Most days, his squeezy hugs and kisses are enough to turn any day around.  I am very thankful that I was chosen to be his mom.

 

 

By Friday, I had had enough of the week.  It was just all around bad – trucks breaking down, me breaking down.  Just not great.  So when I got home on Friday, it was all about just having fun.  We played a triangle game of catch with Sheff – he is getting so much better at catching and throwing.  We then ordered a crap ton of pizza and watched the draft on the big projector in the basement.  We stayed up late enough to watch Green Bay trade up for a receiver (!!!), and then went to bed.

We woke up on Saturday and got ready for Sheff’s baseball game.  It was such a beautiful day for baseball, and the Sox took home a W!  I love this little team- they are such scrappy little underdogs.  And Sheff had an amazing line drive hit, that even the other team’s coach was impressed by!  The picture of the three kids below was taken by another mom on the team, but now they’re inseparable when they’re on the field.  So sweet!  We told Sheff that if he had a good game, we’d head down to the Pizitz for sno-balls, so that’s what we did!  We got some lunch, and for dessert hit up NOLA ice for a delicious treat.  I also got some treats from Birmingham Candy, because they’re my most favorite ever.

During Sheff’s game, we got a text from one of B’s coworkers, asking if we wanted to go to the hockey game.  HECK YES WE DID!!  So we got home and played around outside until it was time to go.  The seats we had this time were in the third row behind the ice!  We got to see some action up close and personal!  A puck even came across the top – that’s what the kiddos are holding in the pictures below.  The Bulls also won that night – we didn’t get home until about 10 – Sheff was exhausted!  But it was such a good day!

On Saturday, we had a friend text us and ask us to come over on Sunday to hang out.  Sheff and their kid have been friends since birth, and it ‘s always so fun to see them hanging out and playing together.  We brought over some Publix chicken, had some adult beverages and left after having a pizza dinner.  We were over there pretty much all day, and it was so nice.

Going into this weekend, we had zero plans, but am really glad it turned out the way it did.  It was a weekend full of catching up and hanging out, and it was so good for the soul.

Our past weekend was so relaxing – we had zero stressful plans and got to try a new doughnut place!

I’ve been having to come into the office more often than I like, but that means I’m closer to all the food downstairs.  I started the weekend a tad early on Thursday night by heading to Carrigans for some beverages and pub fries (SO GOOD!) with an old friend.  I am a huge fan of Carrigans – of their drinks and their food and their all-around atmosphere.  It’s just such a good space.  And then also, while I was in the office on Friday, Broad Street Peaux Boys and Nola Ice have finally opened their stall at the Pizitz food hall, and I got an AMAZING po’boy with some fried okra.  That thing was huge and completely stuffed – I only ended up eating a quarter of the sandwich and bringing the rest home, but I can’t wait to go and try it all!

Friday night, we did our normal pizza and a movie night.  We all had a long week, so no one was up very late.

Saturday, we woke up to rain, so Sheff’s baseball game had been canceled. We decided to hit up a new doughnut place over in Avondale, Son’s Doughnuts, and it was the perfect rainy Saturday morning treat.  They have mini doughnuts that come with dipping sauces, and you can add different flavorings to your milk.  We tried the cinnamon and cardamom milk shot and the strawberry milk shot, and they were both amazing.  One tasted like Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk and the other tasted like a milkshake.  Sheff was definitely a fan.

My sister and I went shopping around after that, and the day ended up being absolutely gorgeous.  We sat on the patio, soaked up some sun and listed to Jazz Festin’ in Place.  The rain eventually came, so we came inside and just chilled out.

Sunday the in-laws came up to hang.  We went to lunch with them – and then after they left, we spent the whole day outside again.  We found out Sheffield is indeed allergic to poison ivy – but he still had a good time jumping in his trampoline and running around outside.  The boys came in and played video games while I finished up a book.

I was thankful for a quiet weekend and a weekend spent soaking up the weather and Jazz Fest.  Sheff’s baseball game has been rescheduled for Wednesday, so we’ve got two games this week, but I think that’s about as exciting as the week will get for us.  I’m really glad for it, because Monday has already kicked my ass.  I hope you all had a great weekend!

Bennett liked that I did this last year, so I’m helping him out again this year.  Also, there is some really fun stuff on this list that I think could work for a lot of different moms!

// Like a ton of people, I became obsessed with Schitt’s Creek during quarantine.  I love having a little bit of color on my keychain to be able to spot my keys in my endless work bag/purse, and I just love this cute little keychain, paying homage to the Rosebud.

// I’m an Atlanta girl at heart, so it belongs to the Atlanta Braves during baseball season.  This sweatshirt looks beyond cozy, and love the funnel neck.

// I’m really bad about printing pictures.  Most of it is because I’m lazy, and don’t like to have to upload all of my picture to a website and wait for days/weeks for them to get to me.  This picture printer is a little pricey, but would love to have it at the house to print pictures galore.

// I love this Pink Drink from Sunday Riley – again, it’s pricey, but man do I love it.

// Walking into hotels and smelling that lovely clean scent is something I have missed this past year.  This November Rain candle is supposed to be reminiscent of Marriott hotels, and I would love to smell this every day.

// I’ve seen these link necklaces everywhere, and would love to have one to layer with my other ones.  This Uncommon James one is just so darn cute.

// Sometimes when I’m running out the door just for a quick errand or at work when I’m going to pick up lunch, I really don’t like lugging my entire purse with them.  This little strawberry Kate Spade card holder would be perfect!

// I am a tennis shoe addict.  They’re so comfortable and easy, and these pink Nikes are just so cute.  Plus, I go through them pretty quickly with the running and cycling.  Am in need of a new pair!

What is on your Mother’s Day wishlist?