The Ocean at the End of the Lane

This was another one of those choices on my Kindle when I couldn't come up with anything else. Having never read anything by Neal Gaiman, I checked out The Ocean at the End of the Lane with no idea what to expect.

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Good Reads' Synopsis: "Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.

A groundbreaking work from a master, The Ocean at the End of the Laneis told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. It is a stirring, terrifying, and elegiac fable as delicate as a butterfly's wing and as menacing as a knife in the dark.?"

What I Thought: This was kind of a weird story. I'm still not really sure what I think about it. Having said that, the writing was captivating. The characters were deep. It was just a bit out there for my imagination right now, I guess. Maybe fantasy isn't my thing.

Rating: * * 1/2

Recipe Reblog: Bailey's Puppy Chow

I have to tell you something you may not like.

I am not Irish and therefore I do not celebrate St. Patrick's Day. To me, it's a non-holiday. This is an unpopular opinion, I am aware. Certainly if the amount of parades that happen across the country are any indication, I am in the minority. But, I have a strict rule. If I don't decorate for it, it doesn't count. My husband and in-laws (along with millions of others), however, really happen to enjoy this day. Because I love them all (my family - not the millions of others), I made this recipe to contribute.

Bailey's Irish Cream Puppy Chow: Can you believe I've never made puppy chow? Truth. I also didn't feel like buying Bailey's just for this recipe so I bought the knock-off, Carolan's. Let me tell you. The Carolan's was delightful! I also bought the knock-off Rice Chex. They were called Rice Bitz, with a Z. I bought the brand of the candy melts though, only because they don't make a knock-off of those. OK, now that we're all caught up. A word of warning, if you're going to double the recipe, as I did, be sure to double the amount of Bailey's or your melted chocolate will not reach the desired consistency. Mine did not turn out as pretty as the picture (shocker), but it was still darn tasty. Use a spatula for mixing instead of a wooden spoon. The wooden spoon was much too harsh and broke a lot of my Bitz. No matter. It was downright tasty, all the same. Just a hint of Bailey's flavor and a festive green color!

You still have time to make this for tomorrow. You know, if you're celebrating and whatnot.

Beer Me: Rhinegeist Brewery

Although they've been open less than a year. Rhinegeist Brewery is quickly reaching cult status. I know this because I had never heard of it and then three people mentioned it to me in less than a week. That kind of buzz makes us drive the hour south to Cincinnati and check it out.

Housed in the old Moerlein bottling plant in Over-the-Rhine, Rhinegeist makes you feel like you're entering a secret club. After spending the morning at Findlay Market, we headed down Elm St. and then up several flights of stairs towards the noises of what could only have been a raucous party. John likened it to the time we followed a woman in Chinatown in NYC in order to buy purses. He was certain we'd be shot or kidnapped. Just like then, I knew better and led the way.

A vast warehouse is filled with long tables, ping pong, cornhole and a bar with a line 30 deep. It may have been 2:00 pm on a Saturday but the music was pumping and the place was packed. You might as well order two pints when it's your turn at the bar, or get back in line as soon as you get your first glass. It doubled in length in the time we were there.

But what about the beer? They had 6 varieties on tap that day. I tried their Panther Porter. It was smooth, not smoky. Just the way I like it. $6.00/pint. They also fill growlers.

John tried the sampler as they're strong on the pale ales and IPA's. He started with a golden ale, Cougar. I liked that one too. Easy drinking and a good workhorse of a beer. Truth, an IPA -- so I hated it but John LOVED it. I cannot for the life of me remember his third selection. The Saber Tooth Tiger is a super popular Imperial IPA but he didn't go for that. I'm sorry! And specially on tap that day, Mastodon, a stormy dark Belgian ale. Holy cats was that good. High on ABV though. Watch out!

Ghosties on Tap

They don't serve food but we brought snacks. You can also have pizza delivered right to your table. The prices were about what we've come to expect with local craft breweries. The sample was $8.00 for 4 pours. We might have stayed for a second round but didn't want to wait in the line.

On Sundays, they have yoga in the morning! Now, I just need to convince John to try yoga.

Why You Should Go: It's an awesome space. The vibe is electric. The beer is delicious. If you're in the area and looking for a new adventure, definitely check them out. There is a parking lot across the street but also street parking all around. They open at noon on weekends....maybe go then to beat the line.

Olive Kitteridge

Perusing the Kindle Lending Library last week led me to this Pulitzer Prize winner by Elizabeth Strout. Critically acclaimed and actually available to borrow? Count me in!

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Good Reads' Synopsis: "In a voice more powerful and compassionate than ever before, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout binds together thirteen rich, luminous narratives into a book with the heft of a novel, through the presence of one larger-than-life, unforgettable character: Olive Kitteridge.

At the edge of the continent, Crosby, Maine, may seem like nowhere, but seen through this brilliant writer’s eyes, it’s in essence the whole world, and the lives that are lived there are filled with all of the grand human drama–desire, despair, jealousy, hope, and love. 

At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance: a former student who has lost the will to live: Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse. 

As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life–sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty. Olive Kitteridge offers profound insights into the human condition–its conflicts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires."

What I Thought: At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this. The star player, Olive, comes in a bit slow and unassuming in the beginning. As the story unfolds, we learn she is a force to be reckoned with. All of Strout's characters are so well-developed that it feels each could be their own whole story and left me wanting more of them after their little vignette had ended. Although Olive does and says plenty of things that make her wholly unlikable, I think you'll feel differently about her by the end. If you are into beautifully woven, character-driven novels, you'll like this one a lot.


Rating; * * * 1/2

OK, for a Monday

How are we doing today? Did you have a nice weekend? Anyone go shopping and get some good stuff?

Me?

-The doctor gave me the go ahead to exercise even though I still have this hole in my back. On Saturday, I ran for the first time in 16 days. It was only 3 miles but it was amazing. I haven't taken that many days off since I starting running 7ish years ago. I didn't really think I would miss it so much. I was wrong. Even though I know it's not true, I feel like I've gained 20 pounds since I was barred from physical activity. Absolutely cannot wait to feel the burn in my muscles again.

-Sadly, the treadmill is sick. The belt is cracking and folding in on itself. The computer goes all wacky with the speed even though you haven't changed anything. My baby is unrunnable! We need a fix-it man, stat.

-John and I had a fun adventure day on Saturday. It could not have been more fabulous. The weather was superb. The company was incredible. More on that later on this week.

-Just recently, I was gifted mass amounts of fabric. We're talking more than 30 yards of about 5 different kinds. There is a blouse going through my machine as we speak. Sewing hasn't happened here for more than a few months. This feels amazing too. Time to start getting back to normal around here. I haven't been feeling like myself lately so I need to work on getting back to me. 

-We are barreling towards the official start of spring and I am thrilled. Today, it will be in the 60's. Sixties!!! It's Ohio so that means we'll have snow at the end of the week but we take these small victories where we can get them.

-If I can just make it through the next 5 days, another super fun weekend will be upon us. A trip north. A 95th (!) birthday party. Family time. Let's do this!

-This cover of To Make You Feel My Love is everything. Listen. NOW. And you're welcome.

Beer Me: Star City Brewing

Believe it or not, the Dayton region is a hot spot for new pop-up breweries. Why so many are coming here is beyond me but we are not complaining! Last weekend, John and I ventured about 15 minutes down the road to Miamisburg and decided to check out Star City Brewing Co.

The owners have taken over a historical location, the Peerless Mill Inn, and given it new life. The exposed beams and what seem to be original stone floor added to the ambiance of an old pub. Actually, I'm quite certain a lot of the fixtures were original. It was a bit dark in there but that's okay. Do you need to see what you're drinking? They have a nice large space and other rooms to accommodate over spill on busy nights.

There are a couple TV's at the bar and what John deemed to be "good music" playing unobtrusively in the background. At 3:00 pm on a Saturday, we were served right away but in the hour plus that we were there, a rotation of about 20 patrons passed through.

Since it was our first time, we wanted to try everything. The barkeep (owner? brewer? either way - he was very knowledgeable and friendly) went over all their offerings and poured us two flights. They currently have seven varieties on tap to enjoy in the taproom or take in growlers to go.

Not in the order of the photo above, we tried: Blonde, Hefeweizen, Irish Red, IPA, Winter Warmer, Oatmeal Stout and Milk Stout.

All the beers were clean and drinkable but there were some definite standouts. The Blonde was a good, lighter beer with crisp flavors. The Hefeweizen was a favorite of John's (I liked it too) and would be very nice in the spring and heading into summer. I was really impressed by the Irish Red. I like Irish style brews all right but often forget about them. This Red had a little something extra going on that I really dug. John liked it better than Great Lakes' Irish (but you did not hear that from me).

The IPA, of course, was my least favorite but John declared it decent. The Winter Warmer was a bit of a disappointment for me. Too hoppy and not wintry enough. It reminded us of Revolution's Fistmas which I hated. I'm sure hop lovers think this one is just fine. Although, we were told that one was on its way out and nearly tapped.

Not surprisingly, the Oatmeal and Milk Stouts were the winners for me. The Oatmeal had a smooth richness to it and was everything I hope for in an oatmeal stout. The Milk Stout offered up a creamy sweetness that I always love. In fact, I had a pint of that after the tasting. What? I wasn't the driver.

Tastings were $1.50/each and the pints were between $4-$5 each. Not bad at all. They don't serve food but we were given pretzels, which I appreciated. You can order from any number of local restaurants and they'll deliver as well, or you're free to bring in your own snacks too.

We are so glad we ventured out to this joint and will definitely return. We can't wait to bring fellow beer lovers who might visit us to try it out for themselves. It's also one of the closest breweries to our house. We like proximity. If you're in the area, or even if you're not, check this place out. It's worth a pint of your time.

Stitch Fix #4

It's Stitch Fix time again, everyone!

I got my fourth Fix last week. It was two days late which made me sad.

But, I also got a hair cut. See what you think in the pictures below! The hair cut is unrelated to the clothing. I just hadn't told you about it yet. :)

Georgiana Cap Sleeve Belted Polka Dot Dress, $98

This navy printed dress is a jersey knit of sorts. I liked the print and the style. I loved that the neckline came up high enough so you wouldn't have to wear a tank top under it.

Unfortunately, they sent it in a 6/8. Never have I ever been a size 6/8. It was also marked as a Medium, which I am. I'm guessing they didn't take the number size into consideration. The top fit fine.

The bottom was much snugger and a less flattering than I would have liked. It was also the most expensive piece.

Verdict: Send back


Ritz Mixed Pattern Front Pocket Knit Shirt, $44

I absolutely adore this t-shirt! Mixing prints is all the rage these days and this one top has three prints all on its own. While I am a bit concerned it might be slightly youthful for this 30-year old, it's too cute to pass up. We'll just pretend I'm a few years younger than my driver's license lets on.

 I think I'll get a lot of use out of it in the coming (hopefully) warmer months. I think it'll look great with jeans, cords, crops, shorts, skirts. Everything!

Feelin' Sassy!

Verdict: KEEP!

Malcolm Heathered Dolman Sleeve Knit Shirt, $48

Last month, I kept a deep emerald green dolman sleeve top in the exact same style as this. I haven't worn it yet because it's been too frigid but I love it. I love this top too but I am in a quandary. I have another one in the exact same style and, I have a different style long sleeve shirt in this exact "print". No joke.

So, while I really like it, I'm having a hard time justifying the cost to fill a hole in my wardrobe that doesn't really need filling.

Verdict: Send Back

Abrianna Long Sleeve Knit Cardigan, $48

 Next up is this green, draped cardigan. I think it's cute but it was already snagging in some spots and the finishing on the seams was a bit wonky.

It just didn't seem like great quality, especially for the cost. Some of these designers Stitch Fix uses could stand to go through a bit more vetting.

The sleeves were rightthere on length and there's nothing worse than sleeves that are too short. Nice length in the back but, meh.

Verdict: Send Back

Esten Button-Up Sleeveless Blouse, $54

Lastly, this bright coral, pink sleeveless top. The quality on this was much better and it wasn't sheer at all, which I was worried about. The arm holes weren't gappy and the length was perfect. I think this could transition really well from spring with cardigans and blazers right into summer on it's own.

The blazer is mine but I look really fat in this picture for some reason. It didn't look like that in the mirror.

Cute with shorts and sandals or skinnies and flats. I don't have anything like this in my closet and the color pop is great.

Verdict: Keep!

Creeper Sadie

Overall, a pretty good fix this time. I'm debating when to schedule my next one. I have a birthday coming up which means other presents or.....gift certificates to Stitch Fix! Hint, hint. I haven't loved much of anyone's spring lines at the mall these days so we'll see.

Want to see what was included in my other fixes?

First Fix
Second Fix
Third Fix

Want to try it for yourself? For a $20 styling fee, you can fill out your style/fit questionnaire and get your very own Fix too! Your $20 fee is subtracted from any purchases you make. If you keep all five pieces, you get a 25% discount. This time, I considered keeping 4 pieces (not the dress) and would have been cheaper for me to also keep the dress instead of sending it back. Crazy, right?

Anyway.....use my referral link, would you? I'll be your best friend. It's right HERE!