Choose to Make Things Beautiful

Survival Lessons by Alice Hoffman
Published: October 1, 2013 by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
I was so excited when I received a request to review this book. I absolutely LOVED Hoffman's The Dovekeepers, and ever since then have wanted to read more by her. And while these two books are about two completely different subjects, both have a similar poetic beauty about them.

Survival Lessons is somewhat of a self-help book that Hoffman was inspired to write from her struggles cancer. It's the type of advice she received, would have loved to receive, or would later give herself. And while the advice was written for someone who many facing the end of their life, all of it is so universal for anyone going through any type of struggle or life in general. Each section contains a goal that sounds simple and almost intuitive, but is still nice to be reminded off, things like "Choose to Enjoy Yourself," "Choose to Dream," and the source of my post title, "Choose to Make Things Beautiful."

It is short, so much so that I read it over my lunch hour. But once finished it felt like I had just had a lunch date with a longtime friend, instead of one where I was sitting alone reading. It's almost like a book of poems or inspirational quotes that you know you're going want to refer back to. Speaking of quotes, there were so many I bookmarked that I wanted to share, but if I shared all of them I'd practically writing the book again. So I'll leave you with not necessary my favorite quote, since I don't feel that would be fair to others I enjoyed as well, but one quote that did speak to me,.

"I know why my grandmother always told me to bring along a sweater on cold nights. She was telling me I had to take care of myself, to watch out for chills and pneumonia. But she was also telling me that life if worth fighting for. I have every blanket she ever made for me even though they are heavy as armor. My grandmother's spirit is in every stitch, and her love for me is there as well."

5/5

Disclosure: I was provided this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Let's Get Pumpkin Sauced

I feel like this has been the year of the pumpkin. I've had too many Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks to count, I just bought a box of Archer Farm Pumpkin Spice K-Cups, and I'm about to post my 3rd recipe of the fall featuring pumpkin. But unlike the last two, this one is more on the savory side. Like so many of my recipes lately, the original version of this is from Mix & Match Mama.

Pumpkin Sauce Pasta
Ingredients
1 pound rotini
1 onion, diced
Olive oil (Not pictured)
1 pound ground beef
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup pumpkin
Salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste (We didn't actually include the red pepper, but according to the boy, it could have used some. Not pictured.)
Parmesan, for serving (Again, not pictured.)

Directions
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile saute your onion until translucent.
2. Add the ground beef and cook till browned.
3. Add in the garlic and saute about 4 minutes.
4. Pour in the chicken broth to help deglaze the pan. Let simmer on low about 3 minutes.
5. Add in the pumpkin, salt, and peppers and let the flavors meld together for about 5 to 10 minutes.
6. Serve over your cooked pasta, topped with freshly grated parmesan.
I thought this turned out awesome, and was a lot of fun. With the first few bites there was a definite hint of pumpkin, but the more you kept eating, the more it tasted like normal spaghetti. The boy of course, wasn't nearly as big of a fan. His main complaints were that he claims to not actually like pumpkin (craziness, right?), he thought the onion was a little under cooked, and felt it needed a little spice (hence the adding of the red pepper flakes). But even with his complaints, he didn't have a problem eating it, so he can't have hated it that much!

Are you more of a savory or sweet pumpkin person?

Pumpkin Sauce Pasta
Ingredients
1 pound rotini
1 onion, diced
Olive oil
1 pound ground beef
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup pumpkin
Salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, to taste
Parmesan, for serving

Directions
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile saute your onion until translucent.
2. Add the ground beef and cook till browned.
3. Add in the garlic and saute about 4 minutes.
4. Pour in the chicken broth to help deglaze the pan. Let simmer on low about 3 minutes.
5. Add in the pumpkin, salt, and peppers and let the flavors meld together for about 5 to 10 minutes.
6. Serve over your cooked pasta, topped with freshly grated parmesan.

Prepping for Thanksgivukkah

It feels awfully early to start thinking about the holidays, but with Hanukkah starting so early this year (before Thanksgiving even!) it will be here awfully soon. So in what's becoming somewhat of a holiday tradition around here, it's my holiday wish list. (If your curious these are my lists from 2012 and 2010.)
Pottery Barn towels
John Besh's Cooking From the Heart
Soup bowls in our china pattern
zLes Miserables Deluxe Edition Soundtrack
The Pioneer Woman's A Year of Holidays
Serving bowl in our china pattern
Pitch Perfect Soundtrack
DVD of Joss Whedon's Much Ado About Nothing

What's on your holiday wish list this year?

MMRR in October

Looking through my last 6 months of monthly recaps, every month I started by saying how quickly the past month has gone by. But really, if every month feels like it goes by quickly, doesn't that make the the norm instead of something to comment on? Either way, here's my highlight of this past October.

Meals
I made several delicious desserts this month, but the winning dish has to be one of the boy's.
He made this meal with braised beef tips and mushroom risotto twice because we loved it so much, and each time it was just as delicious.

Moments
This month was my 29th birthday! I officially started my last year of my 20s. And while it isn't quite on the same level, Trader Joe's opened in Baton Rouge. Now with a Panera and Costco both under construction it seems that Baton Rouge has finally arrived!

Reviews
In October, I posted reviews of 7 books and 2 movies.
Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon
The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch
Weak at the Knees by Jo Kessel
Tinseltown Riff by Shelly Frome
The Hourglass by Sharon Struth
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Paris was the Place by Susan Conley
Don Jon
Carrie
While I did really enjoy Lean In and any other month it probably would have been my favorite, it can't compete with Paris was the Place in my opinion.

Remembering
Three years ago, I celebrated my 26th birthday on 10/10/10.
What are your meals, moments, reviews, and remembering from this past October?

Mailbox Monday (53)

Every week bloggers gather at Mailbox Monday to share all the exciting books they've picked up recently. This link-up tours to a new host each month, and for November our host is supposed to be I Totally Paused with Beauty in the Ruins as our back up host.
Purchased
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Yes, like everyone else I picked this up. I haven't started it yet, and so far I've avoided spoilers, but I'm really excited to see how it all ends.

From France Book Tours
The Consolations of the Forest by Sylain Tesson
This is written by a French author, and I believe is one of his first books to be translated into English. The story is about a man who spends time in Siberia to find himself.

From Goodreads
The Almond Tree by Michelle Cohen Corasanti
This books seems to always be up for giveaways on Goodreads. In some ways that makes me a little skeptical of it, but I can't help but be excited. This one if a fictional story about the Israel/Palestine conflict.

The Truth About You by Susan Lewis
This looks like a fun chick-lit type, plus is has a gorgeous cover. While I have heard of this author before, this is the first time I'll be reading anything by her.

What do you have in your mailbox this week?

Don'f forget to enter my giveaway for a copy of Gracianna by Trini Amador while you're here!

Project 365: Days 299 Through 305

I apologize in advance because every photo I'm about to share is of food. But at least you've been warned!
October 26, 2013 - 299/365: The pumpkin spice vodka display at Whole Foods.
October 27, 2013 - 300/365: A satsuma from our backyard.
October 28, 2013 - 301/365: Gingerbread spice chocolate bar.
October 29, 2013 - 302/365: A sneak peak of a recipe you'll be seeing in the next few weeks on the blog. Any guesses on the hidden ingredient?
October 30, 2013 - 303/365: Tuscan chicken sandwich at Subway.
October 31, 2013 - 304/365: The candy we had for trick-pr-treat-ers, except we didn't get a single one at our house. We don't normally have many, add in the fact it rained almost all night long, there was little chance of anyone showing up. Guess who has to eat the candy instead now?
November 1, 2013 - 305/365: Lunch at Whole Foods.

How many trick-or-treat-ers did you have stopping at your house?

I'm linking this post up with Random-osity & Kleinworth & Co. for Project 52!

La Résistance

Gracianna by Trini Amador
Published: July 23, 2013 by Greenleaf Book Group Press
I'm a little conflicted about this book. There were parts of it I really loved, but also parts that didn't quite click for. Overall though, I did enjoy my time with it.

Gracianna takes place in France during World War II. Except for the first part of the book the setting seemed a little off. I realize this is because it takes place in a small village in the mountains in Basque Country, and that within a small town time seems to stand still. So often I had to keep reminding myself that the story was taking place in the 1940s instead of the 1840s.

But then in second half of the book Gracianna, our main character as well as the book title, is in Paris and the pace picks up significantly. She gets involved in the French Resistance and I found that part fascinating. I actually had a Hebrew school teacher who was also part of the French Resistance, and while I've never knew the details of her story, I've always been a little curious. I can't imagine her story was that similar to the book, but I guess you never know.

The book is actually written by the great-grandson of the real Gracianna and inspired by true events. Except I can't help but wonder how much was embellished for the story. I just wish that there was a more detailed author's note that gave a better understanding on which events actually happened.

While I don't think this book was perfect (although that can be hard to find), I definitely am glad to have experienced it. And I do think it's well worth reading if you enjoy WWII set fiction, but especially if your looking to hear it from a lesser known point of view.

3.5/5

If this book piques your interest, then today is your lucky day! I have one copy to giveaway (in the US only). Please use the rafflecopter form below to enter. Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was provided this book through Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. All opinions expressed are my own.

Today I'm linking up with Blonde Undercover Blonde for Book Club Friday!