Weekend Reading

By Kate Riley January 7, 2017

I spent most of yesterday putting the finishing touches on the community living room and kitchen spaces for the transitional house for veterans in partnership with my local Committee on the Shelterless. I’ve been working behind the scenes with this non-profit for years, and yesterday was move in day so the team finished the house just as the veterans were arriving. It is the best feeling hearing the “wow”s and seeing the smiles when they move in to the home. I’ll be sharing some pictures of the living room and kitchen makeover in the coming weeks.

Confession. I still haven’t cleaned up Christmas. I feel like the last person on earth! I’m under the gun because the pickup tree service comes tomorrow so this evening I’ll be taking down my tree. The garlands and ornaments will be packed away tomorrow then I can finally look at purging the house of the excess that built up over the holidays. I purge seasonally so next week my focus will be on cleaning out those drawers and closets once more. This week has been so lazy for all of us but the kids go back to school next week and that’s when I feel like I can be more productive again with a routine in place.

I agreed to Dry January along with a few friends and I’m one week in, but it’s killing me. I miss my nightly glass of wine! I will persevere and make it to the 31st but if any of you have any recommendations for low calorie, refreshing, non-alcoholic beverages you love to sip on, I’d love some recommendations!! This one is already on my list. Favorite links from the week below:

 

Thanks Domino for including me among the best budget decorating blogs!

We’ll see more of these 2016 design trends continue this year.

Great tips on how to mix and match nightstands.

I guess I’m not well read but these are the books to read to earn that title.

Loved National Geographic’s best photos of 2016.

Things to do on a plane when you’re bored.

The year of hygge and yes to more of it!

Mmmmm, energy boosting breakfast toasts!

My feelings exactly: loved this article on digital minimalism.

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9 comments

  1. My favorite beverage is plain seltzer water, with just an ounce or so of fruit juice. I particularly like tart blends, cranberry-raspberry and such. Put it in a wine glass and sip away – the tartness will keep you from downing it!

    • I also love LaCroix flavored water blends in a wine glass. Either that or a hot tea in a favorite mug-I love cranberry tea or black cherry or raspberry zinger. All are tasty and indulgent.

  2. I’m right there with you about cleaning up Christmas! I’ve totally lost track of time. Usually, we leave the tree up until January 6th. Well, that’s come and gone and the decorations are still up! Woops!

    xo, Sofia
    http://www.thecozie.co

  3. Oh my goodness, I’m missing my nightly glass of wine as well. I feel like we over ate and over drank this holiday season also. I just finished taking down our Christmas decor yesterday.

  4. I’m doing a Whole30 this January and I’m 6 days in to no alcohol! I miss my nightly beer but not as much as I thought I would. I am drinking sparkling water with lime juice and agree with Mandi about the tartness keeping it a nice slow sipper. Such a simple drink but you’ve got me thinking now that I may throw in some mint tonight to enhance the flavours : )

  5. These are such great links! Thank you! We live overseas (again) and I have 3 kids. We have traveled extensively worldwide. If you are bored on a plane I highly recommend bringing a child next time. Problem solved!

  6. Not totally alchohol free, due to the teeny bit of alcohol in the bitters, but I like lime seltzer and a few dashes of bitters. I still have most of my Christmas decorations up – I just hate to take down the lights in the dark of January. Time to bring out the lamps on the timers, so the house is lit up when I get home from work!

  7. Check out a book called Preggatinis. I bought this for my friend who is pregnant and created a personal cocktail menu for her to have something to choose from other than seltzer, soda or water at gatherings.
    While pulling together drinks for her menu, I taste tested my selections and was really surprised how I didn’t miss the alcohol. Using a cocktail shaker and serving in a wine glass totally made it feel like an adult bevie! My favorite? The Mojito!

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