theinbetweenismine

just a girl living the expat life

Archives for September 2019

Monthly Recap | September

filed under: my so-called life, recap


READ 

I finished another 7 books this month and I am cautiously hopeful that I got my reading mo-jo back. (Psst, I don’t want to jinx it.)

COOKED

I made this soup at least three times already, and I am so excited that fall is around the corner and more soups, stews, and casseroles will return to our weekly meal plan soon! What are your favorite recipes for fall?

WATCHED

I half-heartedly followed the news (I used to be so dedicated to a news hour in the evenings, but lately, I opt for other things)… but this impeachment inquiry has me all, dare I say, hopeful?

LISTENED TO 

As always, not much new. I listened to a few episodes of  Pod Save America. and also downloaded a few episodes of This American Life.

BOUGHT

I haven’t been much of a random shopper lately, I’ve become a lot more intentional with my money. I mean, who goes to Michaels and Home Goods and walks away without buying a damn thing? Unheard of! I did buy a new cardigan for fall (well, technically, I didn’t buy it as it was paid for with a gift card!) and a couple of new basic t-shirts.

RAN

I upped my mileage a bit again this month and ran 29 miles. Still a pretty low mileage month for me, but including my cycling mileage, I made it to over 100 miles and I am pretty happy with that. I feel like I have to put a race on the calendar though, so I can start a new training cycle and stick to a training plan again.

GOING-ONS

+ I had to take my laptop to the Apple Store this month, because I noticed a problem with my keyboard. The space bar would randomly add two spaces when only pressed once and it was getting super-annoying to constantly fix that. You know, when you type a lot, you need the space bar to function properly. Turns out, it was a known problem and I got the keyboard replaced for free. Turn-around time was 48 hours, which I thought was good.

+ My Dad celebrated his 70’s birthday this month. Seventy! I can’t wrap my head around it. Where does the time go? I wish I could have been there to hug him. It’s hard to be so far away for big milestones like that.

+ We hung out with friends on two different occasions this month, which was nice.

+ We went to the German Brauhaus, Low Brau, this month and shared a big sausage platter. Damn, food’s been getting more expensive in Sacramento, but those sausages were worth every penny. They were so good.

+  I got a pedi with a friend. 

+  J got a haircut + beard trim and I got my hair cut as well this month (and I screamed at the price for my trim. Long-haired ladies, where do you go and what do you pay for, literally just having your ends trimmed, no wash, no blow-out, no nothing?).

+ My co-worker brought in donuts the other week. If you know me, you know that I NEVER have donuts. Well, I make the occasional exception. This one up there (the one with the sugar coat) reminds me of the German “Berliner”, so I had to have one, but after eating it, I’ve been good (and on a sugar high) for at least the next 12 months. Haha.

How was your September?

Monthly Favorites | September

filed under: monthly favorites

1. This probably has popped up  in my monthly favorites before, because I continue to love Wasa Whole Grain Crispbread*. Most people think these are crackers (you can find them in the snack aisle), but no, this is considered “bread” in Germany (and other European and Scandinavian countries). It’s also one of those “healthy” breads with a very short ingredient list (Whole Grain Rye Flour, Yeast, Salt).

2. I started a new bullet journal a few weeks ago and I am using the Monbijou Bullet Journal* that a friend had sent me for my birthday. I love it.

3. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you might have seen this recommendation around: my go-to dry shampoo for my fine, brunette hair is Batiste dry shampoo*. The problem with fine second-day hair is not just that it doesn’t have any volume, it gets greasy at the roots and even a ponytail doesn’t help with that. Anyone with the same problem? This is where dry shampoo makes a real difference (and I usually apply it at night before I go to bed). 

4. If you ever wondered which app I use for my photo collages (for my monthly recaps and currently posts), it’s the Diptic app*.

5. I don’t know if this borders on TMI, but I have to share my favorite razor in my favorites this month. I had a coupon for a different brand a while ago and so bought it and was so disappointed that I couldn’t go back to my beloved Gillette Venus smooth* razors fast enough. They just do the best job. Do you have a favorite razor?

6. J and I have been on a Pork Fried Rice kick. How many times do you think it acceptable to eat this per week? Asking for… us!

7. This item had been sitting in a box since our move but I recently got out my Mixpresso Milk frother* again and hello, where have you been all my life the last few months? I missed you.

What was one of your favorite things this month?

* #notanad, This is not a sponsored post. I have not been compensated by the brand or anyone else for linking the websites.

Tuesday Topics: What are your running or race pet peeves?

filed under: linkup, running, Tuesday Topics

It’s Tuesday again and time to link up with  Kookyrunner and Zenaida  for Tuesday Topics about all things running and workout related. Today we’re talking about our running and race pet peeves. Oh how fun, because come on, we all have them.

Running Pet Peeves

+ Cars turning right at a red light or rolling through a stop sign without yielding to pedestrians/runners. HELLO! I’ve been cut off multiple times this way and now always expect it rather than assuming that people will make a full stop before proceeding into the intersection.

+ Runners who don’t acknowledge other runners. When I am out for my run, I see a ton of other runners (and (dog) walkers!) and I always try to make eye contact and acknowledge them in some way (a smile, a hello, a wave, or a head nod). Some people just ignore me and I just don’t understand what’s so hard about being nice. 

+ People who take up the whole path or side walk. Some of them even see you coming, but instead of stepping aside, they stay right where they are in the middle of the path looking at their phones and make me step into the street gutter. I mean, really?!

+ Runners that make sudden stops without a shoulder check or moving to the side. It’s not hard, people.

+ When people ask me about my next marathon. I have yet to run my first marathon, so I am always a bit baffled (not really offended, but confused) when I talk about my next HALF marathon and then people say “so, when is your next marathon”? There is a 13.1 mile difference between the two, just sayin’. 

Tuesday Topics: What are your running/racing pet peeves? #tuesdaytopics Click To Tweet

Race Pet Peeves

+ Slow runners/walkers at the front of the race. Even if the race is coraled,  if the slower runners/walkers line up at the front of their coral, they slow everybody down. It’s just a fact and if it’s a big race, it’ll take a while for crowds to disperse. 

+ When people drop their paper cups on the ground when they pass the water station. I get it, ain’t nobody got time during a race, but just dropping your (half-full) paper cup on the ground is not only rude, but dangerous, because it makes the ground very slippery.

+ Inconsistent pacers. I know, I should be appreciative that there are people who volunteer to be pacers at all (and I am!), but I’ve experienced a few times (when I  tried to hang with a pace group) that the pacing was very inconsistent and hard for me to keep up with.  I don’t know if pacers are “supposed to run” a steady pace throughout the race, but starting out slow and then speeding up when the hills start is not a way to keep your group together. 

+ When runners cut corners or cut you off.  Don’t cut someone off on a tight corner or when you’re weaving around people. You might trip them up.

Tell me about your running/race pet peeves? Are they different or pretty much the same? 

Currently | September

filed under: currently

LISTENING TO | This American Life. I downloaded a few podcast episodes after catching a few minutes on NPR the other day and it’s been nice.

MAKING | a fall bucket list. I can’t wait for all the things “apple”.

HOPING | to spend a few more weekend mornings in our backyard. 

THINKING ABOUT | which race I can put on my calendar next. I need something to look forward to. It’s probably going to be a Turkey Trot.

(still) FEELING | a little frustrated with my work situation. I am still kinda low on work, which in itself is fine and not a problem, because it happens, work ebbs and flows for everybody (I assume) and I know how to keep busy, but if you have to charge every single hour to a project, but you didn’t have any project work, it becomes a bit nerve-racking. 

ENJOYING | the time we spent with some good friends this month.

EATING | a BALT. So good. The avocado on the classic BLT is everything.

DRINKING | coffee. 

READING | in bed. Way to start weekend mornings.

WEARING |  my New Balance sneakers. 

EXCITED ABOUT | leaving the windows open and shutting off the AC more! It’s been so damn nice around here. Warm during the day, cool at night and I am loving it.

LOOKING FORWARD TO | my cycling class on Tuesday mornings.

LOVING | the first hints of fall. I enjoyed the heat, but now I am ready for cooler temperatures, the occasional rainy day and scarves and sweaters. We had a couple of rain showers already in September (which is kinda early for where we live), but they were so nice! 

KEEPING | a secret, will fill you in soon. 

What’s going on with you currently?

September Link Love

filed under: link love


Around the Interwebs

Plastic – what’s recyclable, what becomes trash and why. Bookmark this page!

Fascinating! How language shapes our perception of reality. “[…]learning a new language can change how your brain pulls information together, and because of that, enables you to have more perspectives on a particular issue.”

What3words? The app that can save lives.

Bring back handwriting: it’s good for your brain. Do you still write by hand sometimes?

How I learned to cycle like a Dutchman.

Around the blogosphere

Time Scarcity. An interesting read.

Erin talks about her post-partum relationship with exercise and I love how she recognizes and accepts that our relationship with exercise can – and will – change in different stages of life, but that it never has to be all or nothing.

Craftiness/DIY

This cardigan looks so cute (and is hopefully not too difficult to make).

Not that I have a need for this, but maybe you do? This nursery mobile is so cute!

DIY watercolor stationary.

For my runner friends

Don’t tell me what strong looks like.  

Run strong for life – a decade-by-decade training guide.

Deliciousness

Apple Crumble. I can’t wait for fall and apple season. How about you?

Mushroom Stroganoff. Yum!

I want to try this. I loved anything mashed! Mashed cauliflower.

Share a good link with me in the comments!

Tuesday Topics: Taper time, love it or hate it?

filed under: running, Tuesday Topics

I am linking up again with  Kookyrunner and Zenaida  for Tuesday Topics and we’re talking about taper time before races.

The first time I trained for a long-distance race, I thought I had to follow the training plan to the T, and that included taper time. Even though I wanted to trust the training plan and was afraid to skip a workout or move workouts around (you live and learn, friends!) and diligently clung to the rest of the training plan, taper time seemed counterintuitive. I didn’t hate it, but it freaked me out.

I felt like my level of fitness and endurance that I had worked so hard for over the last few weeks would disappear instantly, even though I remembered from my training theory classes during my P.E. education that this wouldn’t be the case. But still.

What do you mean, I reduce my mileage and only have to run 2 miles today??

I felt that this wasn’t a good idea after I had been logging so many miles (more than I could have ever imagined) the previous weeks and I was afraid that taper week would ruin my momentum.

BUT: Sometimes your feelings can be wrong and I’ve learned first hand (over and over) that this is not the case and that the taper really gets your body ready for the race. 

Yes, there are a gazillion different factors that can make or break race day for you, but taper time really is not one of them. 

I first realized this when I was forced to take a training break due to a bumped toe. Granted, it wasn’t really a taper, but an interruption of my training routine and I thought if I took a few days off, I’d have to start from scratch. But strangely enough, the first run after a week or so off, I felt surprisingly strong and energetic. And I imagine that is what taper time does for your race readiness. You get some rest in the week leading up to a race, so that your body is ready to perform. 

Here’s an article that I had bookmarked a while ago, when I contemplated if tapering was really necessary. I think it explains pretty well why taper is so good.

Honestly, I embrace it now, even look forward to it in every training cycle.

How do you feel about taper time?

How I pick which book to read next

filed under: books


Photo by Prasanna Kumar on Unsplash

I’ve always wondered how people pick their next book to read, how they decide which book deserves their attention next, especially when they rely on the library as much as I do. I haven’t bought a book in ages (other than as a gift for other people, when there was a book that I really loved). I have gotten so used to reading on my AmazonFire (which conveniently syncs to my Kindle App on my phone), that I have solely relied on the eLibrary (and occasionally on a selection of books I already own) for the last few years. Part of me would love to read more physical books (and I have fond memories of spending time at the library), but it’s just so convenient not having to actually go to the library to pick up or drop off books, and to have my current book at my finger tips wherever I go just by having my phone in my pocket.

Ah, the conveniences of technology. But I digress, back to the actual book picking process.

I usually find books a few different ways.

+ Blog posts: I love “What I read” posts and and draw a lot of inspiration for my reading list from books my blog friends have recommended.
+ Goodreads Updates: I look forward to the Goodreads “Updates” emails  (or often browse the home tab on the app) to see what other people have recently bookmarked, rated, or reviewed).
+ OverDrive: I browse the front page of my library for inspiration, because they always post recently newly added books and popular reads by genre.
+ NPR: I listen to NPR regularly when I am in the car and often catch a book recommendation or two. I also sometimes browse their book website (when I think of it!). 

I really try hard to read the synopsis of a book first to see if it evokes a reaction in me. If I am intrigued, the book receives consideration. Ratings and reviews do influence me to some extent, but I also know – and have confirmed repeatedly – that just because other people liked a book doesn’t mean that I will like it, too. It depends on so many factors: genre, plot, writing style, and current my mood (to name a few). Also, this might sounds strange, but I sometimes like to pick books specifically because none of my friends on Goodreads have read them yet, just so I can read more freely and get first dibs on the reviews and recommend (or not recommend) books to them.

I use two tools/apps to keep track of my book lists: Goodreads and OverDrive*.

I keep a running “TBR list” on Goodreads (bookmarked books that I’d be interested to read sometime). It’s fairly long, I admit, and I will occasionally go through it and delete a bunch of books that don’t appeal to me anymore or that were given a low rating by other friends with similar taste.

Of these books, I keep two lists in my OverDrive library account: 1) The Wishlist: a longer list of books that I have checked to be available as ebooks and that I deem soon-to-be must-reads and 2) Holds: an “on hold” list of books that I have already requested and am waiting to borrow. I tend to keep that list very short, usually just up to 5 books, and I do use the ‘suspend hold’ feature, so I will still move up the queue but I have a bit more control when the book becomes available to me.

I know other people plan out a reading lists for the month or follow their “TBR list” from top to bottom, but this doesn’t work for me as I rely on what is digitally available at the library at any given time. 

When I finish a book, I usually check if one of my holds is available, if not, I start scrolling through my ‘wishlist’ on my library account to see which books are available to borrow right now. If none of the ones available strike my fancy, I go through recent Goodreads adds and then check if the library has them (and/or if they’re available). 

As you can see, there is not much rhyme or reason to my book picking process other than deciding at the spur of the moment which one of the available books I am in the mood for. What I like about this process is that I never know in advance what I am going to read next and I like the semi-surprise factor of it. 

There are things I will take into consideration, like not reading two books of the same general topic back to back. I will occasionally enjoy a YA novel, but reading two or more in a row will kill my reading mojo for sure. I also try to mix ‘heavier’ books with lighter ones and nonfiction with fiction.  This is my personal preference to keep me engaged and interested, while you might be someone who likes to stick to one genre for a while.

And yes, sometimes there are ‘hot’ books that I am dying to read and I will put a hold on them immediately so that I can read them as soon as they become available, but most of the time, I am totally okay with picking and choosing books on a whim.

How do you pick which book to read next? Do you pay attention to ratings and reviews your friends have given?

*If you’re wondering why I am still using OverDrive and haven’t switched to Libby, it’s because my wishlist, as of yet, won’t sync to Libby. I have downloaded the app, but also prefer to read through my Kindle App, so I haven’t made full use of it (yet).

My 6 favorite skin care products

filed under: beauty, review

I wish I was more fancy with my skin care routine, but alas, I am not. I am not a beauty blogger. I don’t have “extensive” knowledge about beauty products and, like most of us (I would assume), I have been switching and trying new products ever since puberty. 

I go through phases where I am totally into all things skincare, I research and read up on brands and search for beauty blogs and recommendations from other bloggers. Then, I fall into my old habits and just stick with what I know.

I know some people drop a pretty penny on high-end skincare products, but I don’t have that kind of money, so I sometimes splurge on something really nice, but I also use a lot of drugstore products (and some of them are pretty good, IMHO).

Here are 6 products I actually use:

Micellar Water – I use Garnier All-in-1 Micellar Water* facial cleanser and waterproof makeup remover first in the evenings to get the grime and makeup off my face. It works in a pinch by itself, but I like to follow up with a foaming facial  cleanser.

Facial Cleanser – My go to is the Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser*. I have tried other cleansers  in between, but this one is gentle, it leaves my skin soft and hydrated and doesn’t make me break out.  What else would you want from a cleanser? 

Moisturizer – I use St.Ives Timeless Moisturizer for sensitive skin* at night and the Aveeno Hydrate and Protect SPF 50 Sunscreen* during the day (for the SPF, of course). I love both of them and have been repurchasing them, without going to something different, for at least 2-3 times now. Don’t change what ain’t  broken.

C-Serum –  I’ve been using the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum* for brighter, healthier skin underneath my moisturizer and makeup in the morning. By itself, it can feel a little drying right after application, but I love the citrus scent and it works well underneath my moisturizer.

Exfoliant (once or twice a month) – The Dermalogica Multi-Vitamin Therafoliant* was recommended during my  last facial (which was over a year ago), but I’ve been using this every other week and really like it. It’s a great exfoliant, it makes my skin feel soft and makes it look fresh and clean.

Save for the last two products, these are all drugstore brands. If I am blown away by something fancier, I am willing to invest occasionally, but most of the time when I’ve tried more expensive brands in the past, they didn’t really live up to the hype and I went back to my drugstore products.

As always, I love to hear what you’re using, where to splurge and where to save in the skincare department. Leave your recommendations in the comments, please & thank you.

* #notanad, This is not a sponsored post. I have not been compensated by the brand or anyone else for linking the websites.

What I read in August

filed under: books

What happened? You guys, my reading was so slow for months and then I read 6 books in August. Just like that. I don’t know how I turned things around, but hey, I’ll take it.

The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve (★★★★☆)

I love me a book with a good heroine and Grace definitely fits that bill. This book is based on the catastrophic wildfire that wiped out coastal towns and cities in 1947 in Maine. Grace finds herself left behind with two toddlers and a third baby on the way, when her husband Gene leaves to fight the fires. The first few chapters were a little slow for me and I was expecting to find the book mediocre at best, but the story (and writing, IMHO) picked up towards the middle of the book and I found myself rooting for Grace and her children.

Heartland by Sarah Smarsh (★★★☆☆)

I really wanted to like this book. Smarsh writes about her upbringing in poor, rural Kansas and tells us about her family and how their extreme poverty lead to generations of teenaged pregnancies, drinking, abuse, lack of education, bad or absent parenting, all while her family members, especially the women, tried hard to keep things together. I wish this book had been organized chronologically instead of thematically. Smarsh jumped around in time, which made it hard to keep track of her many relatives and what they were doing, and what happened when. There was a lot of repetition in general that got tiresome. With better organization, the book could have had a stronger message because I think her experience is important and needs to be told. 

The girl that smiled beads by Clemantine Wamariya (★★★★☆)

This book was heartbreaking and brave, thought-provoking and humbling. This is the memoir of Clemantine Wamariya, who became a refugee at 6 years old, when she and her older sister were told  to run from the genocide that was about to happen in Rwanda. To think that she survived, let alone made it to America where she was put in foster care and managed to get an education and goes on to become a Yale graduate and activist makes for a good “story” by itself. 

But this book is much less about her beating the odds, but about her losing her family, her culture, her country and her identity at the age of 6 and how this had a ripple effect throughout her life and how she still struggles with her identity and all that has happened to her. The reason I gave this “only” 4 stars is that at the end of the book, I had so many more questions that were left unanswered. Definitely read this.

The friend: a novel by Sigrid Nunez (★★☆☆☆)

I’ve heard about this book on an NPR interview with the author and bookmarked it right away. Unfortunately, the book fell flat for me. I don’t know, maybe I expected the book to be more about the dog? There is a thin story about the narrator, a woman grief-stricken over the death of a dear friend and mentor, and how she has taken on caring for his dog, but it’s more of a side plot than the main story. A lot of the book is just ramblings about the plight of being a writer. Maybe I would have loved this book more, if I hadn’t expected  something different (after all, it was called “a novel”), but as it was, the book wasn’t coherent enough for me.

You think it, you’ll say it by Curtis Sittenfeld (★★★★★)

This book completely surprised  me. When I realized that I picked up a book of short stories, I wasn’t sure this book was  going to be for me, but turns out, I loved it. Sittenfeld tackles many relevant topics — social media, class issues, gender roles, political differences, etc. I was particularly surprised by how much she made me care about the characters in just 10 to 20 pages; she did a phenomenal job of developing a story and making me feel invested in a short amount of time. I found all of the stories well executed and my only ‘complaint’ is that I wanted them to last longer and to learn more about the characters. Sittenfeld is a great writer and I highly recommend this book.

Calypso by David Sedaris (★★★☆☆)

Not sure if my expectations were just too high, but this book didn’t live up to the hype for me. I’d given it 3.5 stars, maybe. Yes, it was well written and I chuckled a few times, but it didn’t make me laugh out loud (as a lot of the reviews said). The book revolves around Sedaris’ family in their more recent years and the time spent together in the family beach house, reflecting back on earlier parts of their lives. Some parts were personal and honest, some were outright weird (like the one with his fatty tumor and the turtle). I didn’t really feel engaged (and maybe that wasn’t the point?) but had to motivate myself to keep reading.

What did you read in August? Anything you’d like to recommend? Leave a comment, and then add me on Goodreads to keep in touch.

Our long weekend

filed under: holidays, weekend

Hello friends. I just thought I would come on here and ramble for a little bit and tell you about my weekend.

How was your Labor Day weekend? I didn’t know that Labor Day apparently officially marks the last day of summer, although that couldn’t be farther from the truth in the Central Valley of California. There are still quite a few hot days ahead of us, I assure you.

Last weekend was definitely a hot, summer weekend. We had planned to do stuff and ended up not doing much of anything at all. Does the heat make you lethargic, too, or just me? You’d think that we’re used to it here, but I definitely have days where the heat just gets to me. That is not to say that it wasn’t a good weekend.

We went out with friends on Friday night. We tried a new restaurant. I spent some time wandering around at Home Goods and Michaels (and didn’t buy a damn thing, riddle me that!) and took advantage of a Labor Day coupon and picked up some German goodies from World Market on Saturday.

I worked on some crafts and I sat in the backyard (if only for a little while when the heat was bearable). We picked our first ripe tomato (it was delicious. Thanks for asking!) and I’ve been keeping an eye on the 10+ still green ones on the vine. I went for an early morning run on Sunday (to beat the heat!), talked with my parents, and spent some time reading .

Even though we didn’t really go anywhere and didn’t do a lot of “fun” stuff, it was a good weekend in my book. 

Tell me about your weekend! What did you do with your extra day off?

Other good things this weekend:

afternoon naps ♥ phone calls with my family ♥ reading ♥  going for walks ♥ ice cream ♥ sleeping in ♥  fresh coffee ♥  working on some crafts projects ♥ 

…