1. Anything by Kristin Hannah! I’ve been reading her books like mad lately, and especially loved this sweet tale of childhood friends. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down and read the entire book on my flight home from St. Croix!
2. I picked up this green tea from our local Asian grocery store last week and am in love! I got it after my acupuncturist recommended it for me instead of my daily coffee while I try to get my migraines under control. I’ve always been more of a fan of black tea than green, but really enjoy the little toasted brown rice bits in this! It tastes like popcorn in the best way possible.
3. Y’all ask me all the time what I do for cardio and the answer is hike!! The weather is just beginning to warm up (and dry up!) here in NorCal and that means hiking season is upon us yet again. I try to get outside for a five mile hike once or twice a week in the summer—nothing centers me more than those huge trees!
4. Smashbox Minx eyeshadow in the outer creases of the eye. Gives you that smoky look without going over the top!
5. My slow cooker! Best $20 ever spent at Target and just you wait—-I have some delicious slow cookin’ recipes up my sleeve coming soon! In the meantime, try this pork. It will change your life.
6. TeuxDeux. I’m in love with this simple design-y online calendar. There’s also an iphone app that syncs with your online calendar so you don’t have to enter anything twice and you always have your agenda with you! Plus, it’s free!
7. The easter bunny brought me this book. No explanation necessary there. Someone knows me well!
Lucy@The Sweet Touch
April 26, 2011 at 1:33 pmI need to get my new library card soon!! My reading list is getting long! Have you ever read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? I’m on my second time through and I rarely read a book more than once. Based on your reading choices I think you would like it!
polly
April 26, 2011 at 1:35 pmhullo love!!! 🙂
I just caught up on your blog. LOVED it all. XO
YES!!! Go see Soul Surfer! Best movie I’ve seen in a long while. Carrie Underwood, Dennis Quaid, and Helen Hunt were all in it and I love all them. I was especially impressed that it was WELL DONE (as not hokey or cheesey) and yet included JESUS in a real way, but not overly syrupy gag. Ya know? I love when a Christian family can be portrayed in a nice way. Also, love the actress that played the main girl! She is fabulous. Abbi and her best friend (I took them the day it opened) both loooooved it!! Abbi and I went to the library to get some books about othe real life girl and it was cool to read about her!
I can’t wait to try that book you recommended! I recently wrote a little diddy about a book I just finished. Oh Jenna, you must read it!!! It’s called Learning to Fly, and I loved it so. My favorite book in a long while. Makes me so happy to find a book that touches my heart.
I love to hike, too!! That is my only form of cardio! I love a nice walk with D, maybe a mile or two or maybe 3… whatever, just down through the woods, or on a sidewalk in the summer. I love it all.
Still doing yoga about 3 -4 days a week. So much fun. My crow is wobbly, but today held it for almost 5 full seconds. (flexing my teeny bicep now) 😛
I must got get my soft boiled eggs off the stove now. For some crazy odd reason when it’s COLD outside I don’t like oatmeal (have not been able to stomache it for months) and now that is’ getting warmer… all I want it oatmeal this week?!! Crazy.
You can love your brother and be sad too. 🙂 XOXO LOVE YOU!!!
Pol
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
April 26, 2011 at 1:49 pmYou’re so lucky that you’ve got such beautiful weather and places to hike! I adore it as well and am really hoping to get out on some trails this summer. Thanks for sharing that calendar – it looks really simple and I love that you don’t have to enter things twice! Oh, and finally, I can’t believe you got a slow cooker for $20 – what a steal!! That’s still a gadget I’ve yet to acquire but I’m on the look out for some good deals.
jenna
April 26, 2011 at 1:58 pmoooo lala the easter bunny was good to you.
I’m off to buy a slow cooker…..
Ruth
April 26, 2011 at 1:58 pmSo jealous of your NorCal scenery right now!
Alison @ Hospitality Haven
April 26, 2011 at 1:59 pmThose are all some awesome things! I’m up in B.C. and we have trees like that further up the island which are great for wandering through in the spring. 🙂
Heather (Heather's Dish)
April 26, 2011 at 2:00 pmoh my goodness, i am SO excited about hiking season coming up in colorado! it kind of snowed on me today (yikes) but it’s good stuff when it’s in full swing. best cardio there is!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape
April 26, 2011 at 2:01 pmCupcake books are always good!! Sadly I do not live in a hiking area, but I am looking forward to all the long walks I can take during summer!
Natalia - a side of simple
April 26, 2011 at 2:10 pmJust made a new request at my library 🙂
There is nothing like walking into a home and smelling the wonderful aroma of a slow cooker wrking its magic!
Judith
April 26, 2011 at 2:12 pmJenna, I just finished this book, too, and LOVED it. I am a big Kristin Hannah fan anyway, but the story of these 2 lifelong friends was touching. In spite of how different the were, and the differences that came between them, they always found their way back to each other.
I thought the ending was going to be oh-so-sad, but it was beautiful, very bittersweet.
Just started using Smashbox mineral base, love it!
Melissa
April 26, 2011 at 2:16 pmI’m a huge fan of TeuxDeux, but won’t commit to a full-blown love affair until they come out with an Android app! For now, Google Tasks will have to do 🙂
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
April 26, 2011 at 2:22 pmTeuxDeux…good info!
Smashbox and MAC, always fun to play around with for me 🙂
And hikes in Nor Cal among the giant redwoods…truly magical and wonderful!
Callie
April 26, 2011 at 2:23 pmJust found your blog! It’s great!
I also give up the gym for hiking. There is nothing like sore calves the day after a long hike.
You should also try barley tea (bori cha) if you’re into rice tea, it’s yummy!
Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet
April 26, 2011 at 7:50 pmAgree! I love barley tea, and Korean roasted corn tea that has the greatest toasty aroma!
Becca@start over from scratch
April 26, 2011 at 2:31 pmYou are so randomly awesome! Thats why I love you and your blog! I can’t wait for the slow cooker recipes and now maybe some cupcakes too!!!!
Mary
April 26, 2011 at 2:31 pmA couple weeks ago my neuro. recommended Migrelief since I wanted off my preventative migraine prescription. So far, I haven’t really been able to tell a difference since it’s supposed to take a few weeks to kick in, but she sung its praises and all reviews I’ve found online make it seem revolutionary. It’s a supplement with Magnesium & some other things & I found mine at WF. Just wanted to pass that along in case you’re interested!
Blog is the New Black
April 26, 2011 at 2:34 pmFirefly Lane is one of my all time favs. Def buying that eyeshadow. And love that app you showed! PERFECT!
Jessica
April 26, 2011 at 2:36 pmI heart Kristin Hannah! Firefly Lane is my favorite book of hers. I had to put it down for a couple days near the end because I was crying so much.
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
April 26, 2011 at 2:50 pmOh I have never heard of this author…must try. Love all these things. Pork good….make-up good…hiking awesome….cupcakes the best!
Cait @ Beyond Bananas
April 26, 2011 at 2:50 pmI have just started hiking – and I am loving it already. Typically – I am a gym/weights/running girl. but there is something so nice and so relaxing about being out in nature!
gia
April 26, 2011 at 2:52 pmWhere do you get Smashbox??
Thanks!
Love that color!
jenna
April 26, 2011 at 3:01 pmulta!
gia
April 27, 2011 at 3:07 pmok- thanks
Amanda (Once Upon a Recipe)
April 26, 2011 at 2:57 pmJenna, how on earth do you read so many books? You must be a lightning fast reader – I’ve been reading the same book for the past couple of months and I’m still only halfway through! If I ever finish it, I will check out some Kristin Hannah!
Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing
April 26, 2011 at 3:09 pmHiking is legit. I’m ready for summer so I can be out there a bit more often!
Mallory
April 26, 2011 at 3:28 pmThanks for the book recommendation and your list is great. I have to say that if there is anyone out there not in love with trees and crockpots then they are nuts! Love your blog!
Natalie @ will jog for food
April 26, 2011 at 3:29 pmI’m seriously addicted to my slow cooker too! I’ve made so many good things in there…from Bolognese to White Chicken Chili. Yum Yum 🙂
Lauren
April 26, 2011 at 3:42 pmI would love to hike there with those huge trees! Last summer, my boyfriend & I did a 3 day hiking trip and saw 3 moose SO close to us. It was awesome!
Kristen @ Chocolate Covered Kristen
April 26, 2011 at 3:43 pmFirefly Lane is such a tear jerker! I loved it!
Molly
April 26, 2011 at 3:43 pmThose trees are getting me excited for my trip to CA in 3 weeks!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
April 26, 2011 at 3:44 pmI love hiking in the summer too! Although I’m sure the trails around me are nothing compared to your California hikes! I would kill to go hiking in your neck of the woods. 😀
Sam [Low Carbon Diet]
April 26, 2011 at 3:45 pmGenmaicha tea is my favorite kind of tea!
Jamie aka "Sometimes Healthy Girl"
April 26, 2011 at 3:46 pmI have been wanting to buy a slow cooker forever. I don’t know why I haven’t gotten around to it. They’re so cheap. The cupcake book looks like the perfect gift! 🙂
Baking 'n' Books
April 26, 2011 at 3:53 pmYour really up on the tech stuff! Iphone? What’s that 😉
Slow-cooker recipes? Yes please.
Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous
April 26, 2011 at 4:09 pmI’m jealous at how many books you can fit in to your schedule! I’ve revived my love for reading over the last few months, but I don’t have nearly enough time to read. I need to be better about making the time!
Sana
April 26, 2011 at 4:53 pmI am obsessssed with hiking, my favorite form of cardiooo! Go to Switzerland. STAT.
Megan (Running Foodie)
April 26, 2011 at 5:15 pmI randomly picked up Firefly Lane off my mom’s bookshelf last year and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it! It’s a great book!
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out
April 26, 2011 at 5:21 pmAww, all great things!
Meghan
April 26, 2011 at 5:44 pmLove teux deux!
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
April 26, 2011 at 5:51 pmOkay, we are seriously book twins. I just finished reading Firefly Lane – it was one of the best books I have read in such a long time!
Megan@Dirty Dishes Daily
April 26, 2011 at 6:02 pmI use to live in Humboldt County and I miss those big redwoods all the time. It is beautiful
Rachel
April 26, 2011 at 7:35 pmMigraines?? You get them too?? Mine are SOO bad lately, I finally went to the dr after I had one that lasted 5 days. I have a prescription now but I still get them at least once a week. I don’t even know what to do.. it’s so miserable. I hope you get some relief by switching the tea because I definitely feel your pain.
mitzi @ my nikon eats food
April 26, 2011 at 8:29 pmhow come teuxdeux says $2.99 on my iphone? did it used to be free and not anymore?
Gracie
April 26, 2011 at 9:04 pmexcited about the slow cooker stuff coming up! I also bought one a few months back but have no idea what to do with it. =(
Marisa@The Pace of Me
April 26, 2011 at 9:33 pmI love, love, love Kristin Hannah!!!
French Heart
April 26, 2011 at 10:01 pmUsed to inhale books at the rate you do. Now wonder how I ever did it! Am laggin’. LOVE Northern California trees…am a tree weirdo. Today went to a French Naturopath RECOMMENDED by Doctor! So love having self-indulgence sanctified by the medical establishment. Expecting to be supernaturally Blissful and Fit next Friday.
I like all your suspicious sounding teas. But don’t really have your Tea-Drinker Street Cred until get some scary looking stuff from the back room bin of a hole-in-the-wall Chinatown, SF tea selling shop. SERIOUSLY. Read society orchestra leader, upper crusty NYC/Hamptons Peter Duchin’s ‘Blue Moon’ set in San Francisco. (Rated: O.M.G. ) Then go to those places…including in Chinatown.Top of the Mark. Trader Vics at the Fairmont. Huntington Park across the street. Le Central. The restaurant at the top of Neiman Marcus that used to be City of Paris….famously owned and incredible dome replica of prominent one in Paris–still survives.)
There are certain things required to get your SF-Girl card punched. Once have it, a proud thing, like bunking at Shakespeare & Co, Paris for a while. Just let’em try to get it away. 😉
Greta
April 26, 2011 at 11:45 pmI’ve been toying with the idea of investing in a slow cooker. What brand did you get?
jenna
April 27, 2011 at 8:57 amI just have a $20 crock pot from Target—it’s perfect!
Katrina
April 27, 2011 at 4:04 amI love my slow cooker too! Also, I need to find that cupcake book.
mary (sisters running the kitchen)
April 27, 2011 at 4:44 ammy boyfriend is obsessed with green tea w/ toasted brown rice and just bought me a pack! yum!
Taylor @ Taylor Baker
April 27, 2011 at 10:51 amI LOVE Kristin Hannah. Found her recently and can’t put her work down!
Curly J
May 3, 2011 at 9:02 amI went out and bought Firefly Lane after I read your last Kristin Hannah book review. Although it took me 10 days to finish (work and life were mixed in there), it was an amazing book. I did a review on my blog! I recently started Mystic Lake too – thanks for the author suggestion!