A Cookbook Sent From Above: SkinnyTaste Fast & Slow

The biggest issue I have with "adulting" is feeding myself. It just requires too much patience and too much planning. In addition, my husband (no, family, I didn't get secretly married) likes more ethnic dishes while I enjoy the same dishes as a typical 7-year-old. Cheese, carbs, and sauce is pretty much my motto when it comes to what I enjoy eating. So, coming up with recipes we can agree on is pretty hard.
The main challenge I find with cookbooks is that they're either overly reliant on canned soup and prepackaged things, or they're overly "gourmet" and end up costing about $40 per person. Looking at you, my beloved Ina Garten. Thus, I wasn't overly hopeful upon receiving a copy of SkinnyTaste: Fast & Slow by Gina Homolka. I'd never heard of her blog, but saw that the book had a lot of reviews on Amazon and said "what the heck."
Well, it feels like this book may have been sent to me from above and may possibly save my life. The book has a ton of recipes, and they all have clear directions for my impatient and easily flustered self. No soups, cheese, cream, packaged items, etc. Just normal, accessible vegetables and other ingredients. My husband said, "If these are healthy, then I'm going to start eating healthy." Though we aren't officially married, this cookbook may have saved us from an unofficial divorce.

Currently Reading: The Inglorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney

I recently picked up a copy of this bright yellow book, and I'm glad I did. From the first page, the prose is deft and hard-hitting.
With lots of crazy characters and a unique and well-described world, this book is a refreshing change from other "family novels."
Thanks to Blogging for Books for this review copy!

Currently Reading: The Inglorious Heresies by Lisa McInerney

I recently picked up a copy of this bright yellow book, and I'm glad I did. From the first page, the prose is deft and hard-hitting.
With lots of crazy characters and a unique and well-described world, this book is a refreshing change from other "family novels."
Thanks to Blogging for Books for this review copy!

Getting Back to Journaling

For me, writing has always been an escape. When I'm enraged, shocked, or overwhelmed, I write about it. I have a hard time just sitting down and writing "on demand." It's weird that although I absolutely hate thinking of writing as an assignment or any type of work, I love writing prompts. They get me in the right head-space to trigger memories and images to write about.
As such, I was excited to try out a journal called Extraordinary Ordinary Moments by Jorey Hurley. It's a thick paperback with cute illustrations and topics on each page, such as "things you don't want to end." While the journal is cute, it's not too cute, and would probably work for all ages and genders.

A Fun & Unique Coloring Book

I like to believe that I started the whole adult coloring book trend because I've always loved the unique Dover sticker and coloring books sold at book and gift stores. These often feature natural scenes or focus on a classic fairy tale. While these things are all lovely and quaint, it would be nice to see a coloring book that's a little more punk rock. That's why I was excited to hear about Marked In Ink, the coloring book by tattoo artist Megan Massacre. This coloring book looks like a lot of fun and is great for tattoo enthusiasts. The designs are basic but detailed enough to let you go crazy with color, and the pages are perforated and one-sided for easy sharing or hanging.

I was thrilled to receive a free copy from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Unfair by Adam Benforado

Unfair seeks to outline the science behind many issues facing the criminal justice system in the United States. Classic and not-so-classic psychological research is cited alongside (only slightly related in many cases) anecdotes about unfair situations that have really happened. The lack of citations was extremely annoying, leaving the reader to look everything up in the back of the book. Many cited experiments and the accompanying anecdotes lacked a concrete link. For instance, I find it extremely hard to believe that DNA result interpretation bias is widespread, and the author doesn't provide a single example of this happening, only cases where jury bias persists in spite of exonerating DNA evidence. Overall, I would recommend this book, especially to someone without much of a psychology background, as a primer and a jumping off point for major discussions that need to be had in our country. I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Plated Cookbook Offers Formula to Get Dinner on the Plate

Plated is a cookbook from the meal delivery service of the same name. The recipes included are simple, fresh, and arranged by occasion. While there is nothing too exciting or mind-blowing, this is a great cookbook for people who are struggling simply to get food onto the plate for dinner. Most recipes include sides, which is very convenient. Recipes call for simple, but flavorful and fresh ingredients. To bolster meals even more, most recipes include seasonal substitutions. There are recipes for generic rubs, dressings, and easy and fresh sides. Overall, the cookbook is a staple for someone needing simple and straightforward meals. I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.