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