Link Love : February

♥ I'm so, so excited about Heidi Swanson's new cookbook! Her cookbooks are among my absolute favorites, mainly because they are a joy to read through and the design is always beautiful.

♥ Two pieces from On Being: The Quiet Lives that Enoble Us All and To Instruct Myself Over and Over in Joy.

♥ Grechen's Closet takes a look at American-made denim. This is something I've been interested in (and intimidated by, because HELLA EXPENSIVE); it's nice to have a list of places to start with.

♥ Opinions on graffiti can be mixed, but I'm of the belief that specific designated public spaces can be a beautiful outlet for creative expression for these artists. Hope Outdoor Gallery in Austin, Texas, is proof of that.

♥ Zadie Smith on not keeping a journal. I'm always trying to sort out my mixed feelings on journaling, so I appreciated this perspective.

♥ In the spirit of Cheryl Strayed's Wild, here are eight stories of women changed by their trail adventures.

♥ Though I'd been rooting for Jessica Williams to take over the Daily Show (because I freakin' ADORE her), I was angered by people unfairly accusing her of Impostor Syndrome when she announced she would not be taking the spot. "There is quite a difference between encouraging and supporting women as they pursue their goals and calling out and shaming women when their goals don’t match your expectations." YES.

♥ For my fellow Parenthood fans, if you're missing your weekly crying session, here is a compilation of 19 perfectly emotional moments on the show. *Cue the tears.*

♥ And for the Park & Rec fans: 8 Life Lessons from Leslie Knope. I'm having trouble coping with another favorite show being over...

♥ The Japanese concept of kaizen, and how small, incremental changes can be one of the best ways to achieve your goals.

♥ 37 Books Every Creative Person Should Read. I've either read or own probably half of this list.

♥ We have officially hit the point in the winter where I compulsively listen to sunny pop music to cheer myself up. Lately, it's been Runaway by Mr Little Jeans:


and Riptide by Vance Joy:


and Sunshine by Matisyahu:


♥ The handwritten text above is from Cocorrina's free 2015 calendar printable.

---

Did this post resonate with you? Email me at rootswingswanderings {at} gmail {dot} com or join me on Twitter @cait_lindsey_ to share your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you!

Coffee Chat // February 24, 2015

1. This is probably super boring to share, but one of my projects for this year is to take care of my home a little bit better. While I am a person who keeps things mostly tidy and enjoys simple surroundings, I am pretty terrible at deep cleaning... and that makes me suuuuuch a Monet.

One thing that is helping me is my Inkwell Press planner* (pictured above), which has a section for "Home" on each day, so it's easy for me to schedule in my cleaning tasks for the day. I'm also following a version of this zone cleaning system (except daily instead of weekly). It is convenient that I have five rooms in my condo, so Monday is the kitchen, Tuesday is the bathroom, and so on, going clockwise around my very squarish condo. I dedicate about 15-20 minutes and do whatever I can in that time—change out sheets/towels, scrub surfaces, vacuum, etc. I'm finding that each week it gets easier as I have less to do overall. I'm also purging stuff like a mad woman and only keeping items I really love, which was my main takeaway from this (otherwise ridiculous) book. And the cleaning and purging is paying off; there has definitely been a positive shift in the energy of these cleaner spaces.

*I'm in love with my planner and will probably talk about it more in the future. If you're interested in the Inkwell planner and would like a code for 20% off, let me know and I can share my link with you! They also run sales through their Instagram quite often.

2. Mark and I hosted a little Oscar viewing party this weekend with some of his college friends, and we had a lot of fun filling out our ballots and playing Oscar Bingo. We all made a few fancy appetizers, and ours came out really well, so I thought I'd share the links to the recipes: butternut squash ricotta crostini with fried sage, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, phyllo-wrapped asparagus (with lemon aioli instead of the sauce in the recipe) and sugar cookie fruit pizzas for dessert. The phyllo-wrapped asparagus and the fruit pizzas were the crowd favorites, but everything was awesome (everything is cool when you're part of a team! ♫♪♫).

3. I've noticed as I'm getting older that I have a harder time interacting with people who outwardly express close-minded viewpoints, especially pertaining to social issues. And I'm curious to hear from other sensitive souls out there—do any of you have advice for how to respond when people say things that make you bristle? I can ignore random comments from strangers, but when it comes to friends and family making underhandedly racist, sexist, or otherwise ignorant comments, I find myself reacting very emotionally on the inside and never knowing exactly what to say in response. I guess I don't know how to balance accepting people's flaws/avoiding unproductive arguments and knowing when it'd be beneficial to speak up. It doesn't help that I'm not a particularly eloquent speaker, especially in the heat of the moment.

4. I don't know what's the deal with me lately, but I feel like my creativity is dead. I can still do things—the occasional blog post/video, journal writing—but I miss the days when creativity felt like a compulsion, something I had to do to feel like myself. Right now, it takes a mixture of intention and force for my creativity to show up. Many of the things I used to do like crafts, DIYs, and art journaling hold absolutely no appeal and seem almost pointless in both action and the end product. I'd always identified as a creative person and a maker, so I'm currently left feeling a little bit out of sorts. I'm hoping it's just a case of the winter blahs, but in the meantime I'm finding myself spending extra time on Pinterest, so I can feel like I'm being creative when I'm actually doing jack squat.

5. I watched the series finale of Parenthood a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about the it since then. I'm so grateful that show existed. There have been many series I've loved over the years (e.g. Breaking Bad, one of the most flawlessly executed stories ever) but Parenthood felt special to me in a real, personal way. Aside from the show's ability to make viewers cry every week, I really loved how Parenthood dealt with family relationships and love in such an honest way, and I can't recall many other shows that have made me feel the way it did. While not all of the storylines were perfect (*cough*Max harassing Dylan and being praised for it*cough*), I commend the writers for creating such a compassionate and emotional look at what it means to be a part of a family.

---

Did this post resonate with you? Email me at rootswingswanderings {at} gmail {dot} com or join me on Twitter @cait_lindsey_ to share your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you!

That Time I Ruined Our First Valentine’s Day

At the time of our first Valentine’s Day together, Mark and I had been dating exactly six months and one week, which was basically a relationship record for both of us. I think we knew by that point we had something special, and with youthful, starry eyes we let ourselves get swept into the expectations of the day, roses and fancy dinners and all.

But, it turns out, we each had a different idea of what a romantic Valentine’s Day would entail. Mark made reservations for us at a little wine bistro in my Missouri college town that I’d never been to. Sure, I thought that sounded nice, but a part of me selfishly wanted something bigger and more extravagant—I blame that on my youthful naivete.

So on the evening of Valentine’s Day, after Mark had driven four hours from his college to come visit me, I convinced him that it’d be an even better idea to cancel our bistro reservations, drive another hour and a half to the Ozarks, and go to dinner at a beautiful steak and seafood restaurant on a bluff overlooking the lake.

Sans reservations. On Valentine’s Day.

For some reason, I had it in my head that this part of the Ozarks was a summer spot and this beautiful restaurant would magically be devoid of people, even on a major holiday.

Unsurprising plot twist: The restaurant was packed.

I slunk back to the car, metaphorical tail between my legs. I felt ridiculous the entire drive, and must have apologized two dozen times. By the time we got back to Columbia around 9pm, the hangries were beginning to set in, and I was panicking about where we could eat. In the previous four hours, I’d gone from believing that I could walk into a fine dining restaurant and get seated on Valentine’s Day to wondering if you needed reservations at McDonald’s on Valentine’s Day. 

The day ended with us eating Chinese takeout straight from the styrofoam cartons, and falling asleep on the floor while watching O Brother Where Art Thou?, a movie I still have yet to see all the way through.

And in that ridiculous day, a tradition was born. No, not of me being incredibly high-maintenance and short-sighted. Now, each Valentine’s Day we celebrate with takeout and spending time together at home. It’s not unique, and it’s certainly not grand. In fact, we probably do the exact same thing at least once a month.

But on Valentine’s Day, when so many other couples are fancied up and doing their best to create a romantic evening, our takeout tradition is a perfect reminder—especially after 11 years together—that love is not about the grand gestures, but in the everyday moments.

In the Post-It love notes Mark leaves on my computer. The back and head rubs. The way we put up with what the other wants to watch on TV. The Dutch Baby pancake we make together each Sunday morning. How Mark always wants to hold my hand, even when they’re sweaty. How he texts me pictures anytime he meets other people’s cats. When he tells me he thinks I’m a good writer. This home that we're creating together. How grateful we both are that we have someone whom we enjoy doing absolutely nothing with.

This everyday love means more to me and makes me feel more special than any sparkly, expensive, extravagant display-of-affection possibly could.

I'm glad I ruined Valentine's Day.

---

Did this post resonate with you? Email me at rootswingswanderings {at} gmail {dot} com or join me on Twitter @cait_lindsey_ to share your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you!

EAT // Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Last week I got a craving for chicken tortilla soup, and I knew I used to use a recipe that was made in the slow cooker. Which is the best way to make anything, because slow cookers are so easy and helpful and almost like having a chef to do the work for you. Well, I searched high and low and scoured my Pinterest food boards, which are the source of 90% of the recipes I use lately, and yet I could not find this particular recipe anywhere. I remember liking it because it wasn't too heavy or cheesy like so many other chicken tortilla soup recipes out there. 

It turns out that I thought the recipe was my perfect version of this soup because I MADE IT UP. Like the genius I am, I was looking all over the internet for my own recipe. Nice. I found a copy of the recipe on my old blog, now shuttered, so I decided to re-post it here so that I won't lose track of it again :)

It's a pretty flexible recipe in terms of the vegetables; sometimes we use beans, sometimes not, and I've made it without the red pepper. But I would not skip out on the green chiles, salsa verde/tomatillo salsa (easily found at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods), nor the spices. The chiles and salsa give it a bright lime-y flavor without adding actual lime, which can turn very bitter in a slow cooker—I can tell you that from experience. I personally think it's a pretty mild in terms of overall heat-level, but if you avoid spicy foods, just cut back on the cayenne pepper. And don't forget the toppings—my favorites are diced avocado and homemade corn tortilla strips.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients
3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about .75 lb)
Salt and pepper
1 cup diced onion
1/2 red pepper, diced
1 (14 oz) can of pinto beans or black beans, drained
1 (4 oz) can of chopped green chiles
1 cup frozen corn (I used the fire roasted corn from Trader Joe's)
1 (14 oz) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
1/2 (16 oz) jar of green tomatillo salsa
2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable/"Not Chicken" brand broth)
1 1/2 t. cumin
1 1/2 t. dried oregano
1/4-1/2 t. cayenne pepper
3/4 t. chili powder

To add 1 hour before serving:
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Options for Garnishes:
Homemade tortilla strips (slice corn or flour tortillas into strips and pan-fry in oil until brown and lightly crisped)
Sour cream
Shredded cheese
Cilantro
Diced avocado
Tortilla chips

Instructions
Generously salt and pepper both sides of the chicken breasts. Place chicken in the bottom of a crock pot. Pour diced onion, pinto beans, green chiles, frozen corn and tomatoes over chicken (note: if you prefer a thicker consistency to your soups, you can choose to puree some of the beans and some chicken broth in a blender prior to adding them to the slow cooker). Add all spices. Pour chicken broth and green tomatillo salsa over the top of the chicken, vegetables and spices.

Cook on the Low setting for 4-5 hours*, until internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Remove chicken to a plate. Once cooled, shred the chicken with two forks. Return meat to crockpot and add yogurt/sour cream and cheese, stirring to incorporate. Cook for an additional hour. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Serve. Garnish each bowl of soup with any of your favorite garnishes or toppings.

*Note: My slow cooker runs hot, so chicken cooks fairly fast. You may need to adjust the cooking time according to your own slow cooker, using your instruction manual as a guide.

---

Did this post resonate with you? Email me at rootswingswanderings {at} gmail {dot} com or join me on Twitter @cait_lindsey_ to share your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you!

What I Read in January.

My reading year started out incredibly strong, and made me very excited for all the books I will get to experience in the upcoming months! I'm happy to have finished five books this month, along with another two books that I started but haven't finished yet. If you're interesting in hearing me talk about these books instead, you can head over to my booktube channel for my monthly wrap-up. Also! I keep forgetting to mention it, but I started a separate Instagram account for my bookish postings, so feel free to follow me there if you like pretty pictures of books.

---

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

---

Everything I Never Told You is one of those books that I picked up with little knowledge of the story and few expectations, and it BLEW. ME. AWAY. This story is set in 1970’s Ohio, and focuses on the Lee family, an Asian American mixed-race family who discover that their middle and favorite daughter, Lydia, is dead. Through an omniscient narrator, the book follows the family as they come to terms with Lydia’s death, as well as flashing back in time to discover what led the family to this point. The book summary makes it sound a bit like a mystery or crime novel, but it truly was a subtle and heart-wrenching family drama dealing with themes of loss, grief, racism, expectations, family dynamics, gender roles and more. It was basically everything I enjoy in a book perfectly woven together and composed. It was an immediate addition onto my favorites shelf.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

---

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

---

I'd heard several people talking about Brown Girl Dreaming last year, but I was sort of hesitant to pick it up because it is categorized as a middle grade memoir written in verse. Then it won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature (and a bunch of other awards since then), and I also happened to read some articles about the importance of diversity in books—especially for young readers—and was really touched by how some people were connecting with the story in Brown Girl Dreaming. I purchased it and read it quickly, and I am so glad I did! It details Jacqueline Woodson's childhood years and what it was like to grow up in both the South and New York City during the Civil Rights Movement. While I'd been nervous about the verse, the writing is simple, beautiful, and very readable. I also love how it incorporates Jacqueline's love of reading and writing, and depicts how she gained confidence as a writer throughout her early years.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

---

Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist

---

Cold Tangerines is a memoir-style short story collection in which Shauna aims to "celebrate the ordinary nature of everyday life." In a quick, digestible style that mimics blog posts, she writes of the simple moments of life that carry much more weight when we pay attention to them, and she weaves together her faith throughout these stories. I am familiar with Shauna's blog and had previously read her book Bittersweet, so I sort of felt like Cold Tangerines didn't provide anything particularly unique, though I did enjoy several passages in the book. I did want to connect to the stories more deeply, but as the reader I felt like I was sort of kept at arm's length in this volume. I personally enjoyed Bittersweet more, which was published after Cold Tangerines; the writing seems to have gotten stronger over time. If you've been considering reading Shauna's books, I'd probably recommend reading them in order of publishing.

Rating: ☆☆☆ 1/2

---

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

---

Station Eleven is a book that is all over the internet. I saw it mentioned a dozen times in various Best of 2014 lists, and many of my booktube friends have read it recently. In this book, a flu pandemic quickly wipes out 99% of the world's population. The story focuses on a group of musicians and thespians who travel on foot between settlements and performs Shakespeare for survivors. A non-linear story and multiple perspectives give insight into life for different characters before, during, and after the apocalypse. I found the writing and story to be closer to literary fiction than science fiction, which is a plus in my book, and I enjoyed the themes the book explored (celebrity, art, artifacts, memory, etc). However, I don't think I loved the book as much as most other people, and I felt let down at the end. Several important characters fell very flat for me. I think I might enjoy it more if I re-read it sometime, and I still would recommend it overall. My rating wavers somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.

Rating: ☆☆☆1/2 - ☆☆☆☆

---

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

---

Another book that has been EVERYWHERE is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I can't seem to go a day on the internet without seeing it mentioned. The book in a nutshell: only keep belongings in your home that truly bring you joy. That's all well and good—though not a unique message to me, as I have read other books on minimalism before—but this book is ridiculous. Why aren't people talking about how ridiculous it is? She anthropomorphizes her belongings and home in a way that, to me, seems bonkers. She describes opening one client's drawer to see a bunch of balled up socks and gasps because she feels the socks are suffocating. To the author, socks must be neatly rolled from toe to top so that they have time to relax after protecting your feet. What? I like the idea of respecting what you own, but I can't get on board with my stuff having feelings. I found many of her methods to be more complicated than necessary (unpacking and storing your purse everyday, putting shampoo away in a cabinet after every shower, etc). I also thought it was problematic that: 1) the environmental cost of throwing stuff away wasn't discussed, and 2) the author didn't address how to examine your purchasing habits to avoid bringing more stuff into your house in the future. However, I did come away from the book inspired to get rid of stuff, and that's the whole point, I guess.

Rating: ☆☆

Did you read anything good in January?

---

Did this post resonate with you? Email me at rootswingswanderings {at} gmail {dot} com or join me on Twitter @cait_lindsey_ to share your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you!