Around the Corner & On My List | Summer 2025

NLW has just three days left of Kindergarten, and then we'll officially be shifting into summer. Similar to last year, we have some bigger trips, so I’m mentally organizing the season into three phases:

Phase I: Ten days in Missouri to visit my family and enjoy life on the farm
Phase II: Summer camps + nanny E. We'll have about 4 hours of care most weekdays which feels supportive and wonderful
Phase III: Ten days in Connecticut to visit family and enjoy life on the East coast

With Fourth of July fun, a weekend trip to Port Angeles, and friends and family visiting in between, it’s shaping up to be more structured than I initially expected—and, the structure is welcome.

Around the Corner
- Celebrating the first day of summer at Jack Block Park
- Staying with our friends K&C in St. Louis
- Visiting the Rabbit Hole in Kansas City 
- 4th of July bike parade

Essentials
Outside of blueberry picking, I don’t feel the need to schedule much more. I know we’ll naturally weave in these activities that make summer feel like summer for our family:

- Spray parks
- Wading pools
- Beach play
- Blackberry picking
- Blueberry picking
- Playdates and park meet-ups
- Ice cream, watermelon, cherries 
- Playing at Schmitz Preserve Park
- Lounging in our hammocks

Bucket List
I'd love to make it to the four major bodies of water in our area: Elliott Bay, Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Green Lake. We bought a paddle board for Mr. Fleece's birthday—maybe that’ll be the push we need to get out there more often. Some other water spots on my radar (no expectation to check all of these off!):

- Flowing Lake
- Chism Beach Park 
- Newcastle Beach Park
- Angle Lake Park
- Beaver Pond 

We’re skipping the big festivals, concerts, and outdoor movies this year. I’m more interested in exploring new places, spending time with friends, being in nature, and maintaining helpful family rhythms. The one true bucket list item? Biking with the kids along Myrtle Edwards.

Reading List
Currently reading (audio): The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa
Currently reading (physical): Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Most excited to pack for vacation: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
My Seattle Book Club's summer classic: Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (need to decide if I'll commit to re-reading)
I'm hoping to dive into some historical fiction and pick up something by Ann Patchett or Kristin Hannah

Summer sun, something's begun

- SJW

No Preamble | Spring 2025 Collection

Watching | Wonka
I enjoy Timothée Chalamet's acting and was curious to see his portrayal and interpretation of the well-loved Willy Wonka. I thought he did a great job and made the role his own. The entire movie was visually appealing and fun! A Complete Unknown is up next!

Reading | Emma by Jane Austen
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, which created an extra incentive to finally read Emma. It wasn't as propulsive as I had hoped, but I'm glad to know the storyline and to have encountered more of Austen's work. I liked Emma more than Sense and Sensibility, but less than Pride & Prejudice. This movie adaptation was very true to the book!

Listening | Good Mood
An effective way to get me or the kids into a good mood, this song gets a lot of airtime :) It's one of CCW's favorites!

Eating | Blue cheese
Blue cheese has been making its way into all my salads. I've always loved a wedge or Cobb salad, and it's likely because of this showstopping cheese :) My recent easy go-to has been kale + apples + pecans + blue cheese + balsamic vinegar + extra virgin olive oil. Scrumptious!

You must be the best judge of your own happiness,

–SJW

Bookmark Binge | Emma, Empathy, and Everything In Between

This spring’s roundup reveals just how varied my reading life has been lately. With only two book club picks among the mix, the rest are personal selections—chosen on a whim, sparked by a recommendation, or driven by pure curiosity. Below, I’m sharing what drew me in and how each book landed.

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend (2018; 467 pages) // Fantasy🎧

I first heard of the Nevermoor series from Fiction Matters. It's a fun and whimsical middle grade novel with wonderful world-building. This one is the second in the series and it will scratch that Harry Potter itch! 

Trust by Hernan Diaz (2022; 402 pages) // Historical Fiction🎧
On lots of "best of" lists, plus heard it was great on audio. Impeccable writing and I love how it all unfolds...it won the Pulitzer for a reason!

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (2024; 597 pages) // Mystery+Thriller
This book was on my college roommate's favorites list for 2024, which was reason enough to pick this up. In short, I hated the content warnings component of this book (which are essential to the plot) but couldn't help but love the cast of characters and story-telling. It helped me realize how much I love closing a book on a chunky, character-driven saga. A hard one for me to recommend, yet so good!

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz (2024; 303 pages) // Memoir🎧
I had seen this cover but wouldn't have picked it up if it weren't for my Seattle Book Club. While it was hard to hear all that happened to her, it was a quick listen and compelling story. The end made the book for me, when she compares being in a cult to being in an abusive relationship...and how it can happen to smart ambitious women. I love when a book helps me cultivate empathy—this one certainly did!

Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks (2025; 224 pages) // Memoir
I'm always intrigued when a novelist publishes a nonfiction book (a la John Green...see below!) especially when it explores one of my niche topics: grief. This is the account of a wife remembering and mourning her husband's unexpected death, told in dual timelines—a favorite format of mine. It is lovely and sweet and reminds you of the "big things" in life. Similar to The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, but I preferred this one.

Emma by Jane Austen (1815; 474 pages) // Classic🎧
This book has been on my list for years now! A few things pushed me to finally pick it up: covered on Novel Pairings, earmarked it as a "massive" book to read in March-May, and a friend of mine also picked it up around the same time. And 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth! It wasn't as propulsive as I had hoped, but I'm glad to know the storyline and to have encountered more of Austen's work. I liked Emma more than Sense & Sensibility, but less than Pride & Prejudice. This movie adaptation was very true to the book!

Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green (2025; 208 pages) // Nonfiction

I loved The Anthropocene Reviewed, so when I saw John Green published another work of nonfiction, I was ready to dive in! I grabbed this off Seattle’s ‘Peak Picks’ shelf and finished this in a few sittings. I love how he touches on the beauty and pain in this world while also teaching you something. One of my favorite kinds of reading experiences. I thought this was wonderful! 

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (2024; 326 pages) // Fiction🎧

I've enjoyed Strout's other fiction with its emphasis on everyday relationships, vivid descriptions, voicy characters, and peculiar plot points. So when I heard this novel combined her two most famous protagonists, Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge, I was intrigued! Overall though, this fell flat and I just wasn't as engaged with the story or happenings. There's a lot of dialogue and the legal case "mystery" didn't drive the story enough for me to care all that much. It was fine—I could have skipped this one.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (1985; 184pages) // Dystopia🎧

I had never even heard of this until my UT Book Club selected it for our spring read. I wanted to re-read the first pages again after I finished, which I think is a sign of a good book! Not a stand-out favorite, but the storytelling is unique and thought-provoking—it certainly touches on the age-old question: ‘What does it mean to be human?’ Excited to discuss this one with friends! 

The Measure by Nikki Erlick (2022; 353 pages) // Science Fiction🎧

Not quite sure where I first heard of this, but I'm a sucker for anything "thought-provoking" and was intrigued by the "what-if" premise. Appreciated the interconnected stories, but most of all, I loved that this one surprised me—both in the direction the story took and by surpassing my expectations! The audiobook is narrated by the all-star Julia Whelan <3

Always reading, 

- SJW

No Preamble | February & March Collection

Watching | Vengeance
B.J. Novak's clever and satirical writing shines through in this West Texas mystery. I had never heard of this, but friends from UT recommended before heading to a girls' trip in Texas. 10/10!

Binging | Hacks
This show is a must-watch for anyone that enjoys stand-up and smart, fast-paced dialogue. The ensemble cast is fantastic, but the dynamic between Deborah Vance and Ava Daniels is the heart of the show. 

Reading | Everyone Who is Gone is Here by Jonathan Blitzer
My trip to Texas also prompted this pick for book club—we wanted a relevant nonfiction read, and this delivered. Blitzer details the history and political decisions that shaped the immigration crisis at the border, depicting multiple harrowing stories. The book is deeply informative without being prescriptive —mostly a documentation of how we got here. It gave me a clearer sense of the severity, longevity, and complexity of the issue. Not something I would have picked up on my own, but I’m glad I did!

Eating | Familyfriend
We went on a double date with our foodie friends A&L and had a glorious time at this Guamanian little hole in the wall—so unassuming that Mr. Fleece and I accidentally walked past it. The combination of delicious food, incredible service, and great conversation was the perfect remedy after a rough day of parenting. We learned that the staff has been friends since high school and all left their corporate jobs to help the owner open his restaurant. I loved their corn chowder and bulgogi dish the most (even more than their now famous burger)!

Listening | Waitress Soundtrack 
I listened to this soundtrack for the first time before seeing the play live at the 5th Avenue Theater. It's quirky and lovely and keeps growing on me. Makes me want to listen to more Sara Bareilles (she wrote the lyrics and music!) 

It only takes a taste when you know it's good,

- SJW

No Preamble | Winter 2025 Collection

Watching | Shirley 
In honor of the MLK holiday, I watched the biopic of Shirley Chisholm and her run for president in 1972. Her tenacity, integrity, and authenticity shine through. What a force! One of my favorite parts of the film is when you find out at the very end that Barbara Lee went on to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives!! I also loved seeing the real Robert Gottlieb attend the movie premiere.

Reading | Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
A favorite of Sara's from FictionMatters, and then referenced in The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I decided to pick this up to round out my fantasy reads for January. As a "sliding door" novel, it was slightly confusing at points, but overall, I adored the descriptive writing, the setting and timeframe, and the ending! Great on audio. 

Listening | Beautiful Things by Benson Boone
I've loved this song when it pops up in my Spotify and just now learning he's a TikTok sensation. Go figure! I also like his songs Slow it Down, Sugar Sweet, and In the Stars.

Podcasting | Sold a Story
This investigative series delves into the reading gap in America, unpacking the science of reading—the meaning behind the term, its history, and the debate about how children are taught to read. As a mother of a kindergartner learning to read, I found it both fascinating and, at times, heartbreaking. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in literacy and education.

These beautiful things that I've got,
- SJW

Year of the Dragon | Resolutions for 2025

Along with the books I want to read, I'm hoping 2025 is a year of patience. I want to be increasingly patient with myself and those around me, most notably, my children :) I also want to be more realistic about how long projects/tasks take and accept that I won't be able to complete everything all at once.  In general, I am coming into the new year exactly how I wanted to be feeling -- refeshed, positive, excited, and more settled into myself.

Word for the Year: Patience

Intention for the Year: Get Outdoors! We already spend a lot of time outside, but I want even more.

Goals for the Year:
1. Visit Mount Rainier National Park
2. Plant a vegetable garden
3. Get my bike working
4. Professional photo shoot for our family

We're planning very similar trips to the ones we took in 2023 -- Camano Island for spring break, Missouri farmhouse with family in June, and Connecticut in August! And I already have a girl's trip to Houston with college friends on the calendar for March. Hooray for time with family and friends. More of that, always!

Cheers to the year of the dragon,

-SJW

Dog-earred Pages | 2025

Here's my updated monthly categories for the year and six titles I'm eyeing!

January: Fantasy 

February: Black Authors

March-May: Massive Books (400+ page)

June: LGBTQ

July-August: Historical Fiction

September: Specific Authors (i.e. Kristin Hannah, Ann Patchett, Lauren Groff, Margaret Atwood) 

October: Re-read Favorites

November: Nonfiction

December: Mood Reading

Removing distractions,

-SJW