Children's Books We Love | Part I - Illustration-Only

In honor of NLW's (and soon to be the twins - woohoo!) birthday month, I'm starting a series featuring children's literature. I've discovered most of these captivating books in the past year or so through the library and would recommend each for the following three reasons:

1. Visually appealling (especially for this first post)

2. A high re-read value

3. Engaging for a variety of ages, including 30-somethings :)  

Today's category is the best ILLUSTRATION-ONLY titles:

Inside Outside by Anne-Margot Ramstein & Matthias Aregui

Before After by Anne-Margot Ramstein & Matthias Aregui

The Other Side by Istvan Banyai

Zoom by Istvan Banyai

Flotsam by David Wiesner

Free Fall by David Wiesner

Sector 7 by David Wiesner

Monkey on the Run by Leo Timmers

Bang by Leo Timmers

While You Are Sleeping by Mariana Ruiz Johnson

The best of the best award goes to: The Birthday Cake Mystery by the Tjong-khing

For sure, words matter, and I plan to share some endearing, rhyming, educational, and humorous books in the next few posts. But I wanted to start by highlighting the beauty, wit, whimsy, and craft of these illustrators. I love when you can tell a story or simply ask questions from book images. 

Books galore,

- SJW 

Life Wright Now | September 2020

September was a big month for our family! We moved into our new house, got settled, and about a week later welcomed my parents for their extended stay. It's been wonderfully helpful to have "Mirma & Poppa" here to care for NLW, run errands, and hold the fort down during my doctor appointments. I love that they are getting all this special time with NLW - playing trains, reading books, learning his routine and demeanor, deciphering his phrases, teaching new words, and going on daily walks. It makes me really happy :) 

WATCHING | The new Netflix film Enola Holmes introduces you to Sherlock Holmes' clever younger sister and her adventurous journey to locate their mother. It's got that great combination of playful writing, solving mysterious clues, and a well-paced (clean!) story. Not only does 16-year-old Millie Bobby Brown star as the protagonist - she's also the producer! Overall, this one's a winner in my book. 

EATING | A highlight of the month was a joint baby shower friends threw for me and my former coworker, JS. It was SUCH a treat to be with friends in an actual party setting again, complete with stylish decor, Baby Jeopardy!, and delicious bites! There were homemade enchiladas, a nectarine + tomato + mozzarella + basil salad, and honeycomb rice krispies to correlate with the "Sweet Ba-bees" theme :) It doesn't get much better than that! 

READING | As part of book club, I recently finished Why We Can't Wait by Martin Luther King Jr. MLK goes into great detail about the historical backdrop and setting for the 1963 Birmingham campaign as well as the rationale and components behind their non-violence approach. He highlights the organization, strategy, and leadership involved in coordinating the lunch counter sit-ins and retail boycotts as well as the vetting process and signed agreement required by participants to ensure and uphold the commitment to peaceful protests. It was a timely read and a provided a great reference point to compare and contrast the 1960's movement to what's happening across the country today. Other topics we discussed in our group included the role of the church, social media, scope and impact, and a desire for greater clarity amidst all the muddied noise in today's landscape. 

LISTENING | Unexpectedly, I spent a couple nights in the hospital this week, being sent there directly for monitoring and blood tests following a regular doctor's visit. It shook me up a bit and was a very real reminder that twin pregnancies are automatically higher risk and require greater precautions. While there, I spent a good amount of time listening to both heartbeats(!) of our children - such a reassuring and happy sound! I also listened closely to all the explanations and instructions the doctors and nurses provided, a good practice round for whenever I'm back for labor & delivery. So while getting poked and prodded for shots, blood draws, and IV hook-ups is not my cup of tea, it made me incredibly thankful for the care and expertise all these essential workers provide!

More changes, celebrations, and children around the corner,

- SJW

Aloha Aloha

This past week we moved across Elliott Bay, leaving behind the familiar urban lifestyle of Aloha Street for the neighborhood vibes of North Admiral in West Seattle. The biggest loss of parting from Lower Queen Anne is the farewell to Seattle Center, the landmark of our neighborhood. I still remember finding our apartment on Craigslist and getting excited about the proximity to Seattle Center and the Space Needle. We've had a view of the iconic structure from our window for the last eight years and could even see the elevators go up and down (a favorite pastime of NLW's)! 

Of course there's other aspects I'll miss: the streets I know so well from all our walks with Ebony, the secret P-patch garden, the short jaunt to South Lake Union, our beloved QFC, Citizen coffee, Laredo's - especially those $5 margarita Mondays - and our lovely neighbors! I know we'll create new friendships, new walking routes, and discover new restaurant dishes. That's part of the joy of moving and beginning anew. But the Seattle Center feels a bit irreplaceable to me. 

Here's just a snapshot of memories I've captured for safe-keeping:

- Countless picnics with friends near the fountain
- Playing two-man badminton on the lawn
- Walking to work at Seattle Rep

- The hubbub of Bite of Seattle

- Movies at the mural
- Hearing parts of Bumbershoot from our house and the one year I staffed a booth and got to see "The Head and the Heart" perform
- Our first and best concert in Seattle - "Deck the Hall Ball" in 2012
- Many jogs & walks with Ebony
- Stumbling upon a yoyo competition
- Watching robot wars in the Amory

- Becoming enchanted by the Children's Museum

- Attending a bipartisan political event and then going to a reception in the newly revolving Space Needle

- Meeting friends at just-before-midnight to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks
- Attending a free "Week in Review" KUOW event
- Free Zumba classes in summer evenings
- Just getting our toes wet with our membership at the Pacific Science Center before covid struck
- Discovering the hidden wading pool tucked away behind some steps 

- Admiring the free art exhibits at the A/NT gallery 
- Ice skating at Fisher Pavilion with friends
- Going for solo or duet runs

- Grabbing a snack or dinner at the Armory 
- Visiting Chihuly Garden and Glass with my family and eating at Collections Cafe!
- Saturday morning dates at KEXP
- Walking home from theater and ballet performances
- Volunteering at a blowout Halloween party at MoPop (EMP at the time)
- Taking the monorail to catch a show downtown or to connect to the light rail and continue on to the airport
- BrickCon (a LEGO convention!)
- Seattle Public Library book sales

- Ample Craft Fairs & other Festivals (like the time we went for a run and then went back the same day to enjoy the Italian Festival)

- Running the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and St. Patty's Day Dash - with start/finish lines at Seattle Center! 

**And most recently, the walking route Mr. Fleece established with NLW. So many simple stops and things to see through a child's eyes! They'd often venture out in the late afternoon while I relaxed and made dinner, but I made my fair share of guest appearances :) 

From exercise and entertainment to peaceful walks and unexpected surprises, the Seattle Center will always be a treasure. Unfortunately, I never saw the Rat City Roller Girls play in Key Arena (would still like to see one of their bouts), never went to a performance at The Seattle Children's Theatre, and never attended a free Fourth of July Naturalization Ceremony welcoming and celebrating new U.S. Citizens. I had also planned a last "hurrah"for us - to put on our swimsuits and play in the International Fountain (again, something we've never done), but alas, the poor air quality due to recent forest fire smoke meant this wasn't a wise choice. It's always nice to have specific reasons to come back!

A fountain of Seattle Center love,

- SJW

Guest Blogger | Veggie Table

Every so often I'll send my friend a cooking question that morphs into a blog prompt. The most recent inquiry was regarding inspiration for preparing vegetables. I'm all about sheet pan veggie mixes (sweet potatoes, broccoli, red onion, Brussels sprouts, radishes, beets, cauliflower...) but sometimes I feel like I'm in a roasting rut!

I relish Kelly's creativity and thoughtful approach to meals. Here's what she sent back ---

Roasting vegetables can transform them into the most delicious crispy, caramelized versions of themselves. But roasting isn’t the only trick in the book. And with lingering summer heat, cranking the oven up past 400 is simply not bearable in many kitchens around the country. So what’s a veggie lover to do?

When I was tasked with writing about ways to cook vegetables besides roasting them, I honestly had to stop and think. Not because I’m a one-trick pony, but simply because my day-to-day meal planning and preparation relies on very few vegetable sides, and instead focuses on one-pot or one-pan meals that span multiple food groups. So that’s where we’ll begin!

Tip 1 | One Pot Meals 

My number one tip for preparing vegetables is to choose recipes where the vegetables are already incorporated into the dish. If your vegetables are included as a part of the entree, rather than being a distinct side dish, that’s one less thing you have to worry about. A few favorite examples of this method include One Pot Mediterranean Orzo, Salmon Stuffed Acorn Squash, Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala with Chickpeas and Kale, Perfect Baked Salmon with Lentils and Lemon Herb Sauce, and Easy Vegan Weeknight Stir Fry. 

Tip 2 | Sauteed Greens

If a meal is looking heavy on proteins or starches, without much in the way of vegetables, my go-to easy vegetable side is to quickly throw a bunch of collard greens (or other dark leafy green of choice) in warm cast iron skillet with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and call it a day. Leafy greens are so nutritious and compared with their more delicate lettuce counterparts, they can last a long time in the fridge too. You can see examples of this method in this Sundried Tomato Polenta Bowl with Greens and Herb Baked Fish, Brown Rice Risotto with Seared Scallops and Chard, and Walnut Crusted Chicken with Collard Greens and Tomatoes.  

Tip 3 | Grilled Veggies

For whatever reason, preparing food on the grill always adds a layer of excitement and ambiance to a meal, making mealtime feel more like a celebration than a daily routine. One of my favorite grilled vegetable sides are these Charred Green Beans with Harissa Yogurt, which I like to serve alongside these Grilled Salmon and Cherry Tomato Foil Packets. I have also enjoyed Grilled Sugar Snap Peas with Spicy Peanut Sauce and Grilled Shishito Peppers (simply toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper and grill until charred), among other more common veggies.

Tip 4 | Salads

You know how everyone has that one “wow” dish that guests rave about? In my case, it is what we simply call, The Buckwheat Salad, and is a great place to start for people who aren’t normally huge salad fans. No matter which salad you start with though, there is no getting around the fact that salads are simply excellent carriers for vegetables (case in point: this DIY Harvest Bowl). Salads don’t even have to be green to provide you with ample veggies, as in the case of this Nicoise Tuna Salad.

Three cheers for roots, tubers, beans, & leaves!

- Kelly

Kellytoups.com

Life Wright Now | July 2020

We are still walking through the unknown fog of house hunting, unsure what neighborhood or home we'll find ourselves in on the other side of all this. There's been a lot of tours, conversations, and decisions in the last four months, complete with five offers and five letdowns. It's become a little wearisome but we're staying positive and still hoping to secure an offer soon!

WATCHING | I'm on my way to finishing the final season of The Office. I decided to pick up at season 4 this spring, push past the awkward seasons after Michael Scott leaves, and finally see the entire series and know how things end. The one-liners, ridiculous shenanigans, and random situations continue! 

EATING | I love re-making Blue Apron meals and adding them to my repertoire. These tahini-balsamic chicken bowls are so yummy and fairly quick to throw together. I swapped out barley for Trader Joe's Israeli couscous and skipped the fennel altogether. The easy-to-make dressing and ripe pears are definitely the showstoppers.

On another note, I recently embraced free grocery pick up from our local QFC. It's something I wanted to try given COVID and the allure of avoiding public spaces...but even more than that, I saw it as a huge time-saver and resource to use once we have two more babies to care for. So far, pick-up has been easy, wonderful, and such a convenience. Color me converted!

READING | I recently blazed through The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. The classic book cover has always stuck with me and I've been curious about the plot, hearing it referred to as a darker Narnia series. It was a pretty good fantasy adventure read and I plan to complete the next two books to see how the story ends.

LISTENING | When cleaning out our car, I uncovered a number of my adolescent mix CD's, everything from Relient K to Never Shout Never to Regina Spektor. The current song on reapt is "Angel" by Jack Johnson :)  

Living through a pandemic,

-SJW

For Better or Worse | Marriage

As Mr. Fleece and I mark another anniversary, I've been thinking about the "for better or worse" part of our vows. We certainly have our "for betters," -- laughs, comforts, vacations, financial stability, adventures, career success, fun and meaningful sex, date nights, long talks, road trips, etc. And although not shouted from the rooftops, we have our "for worse" moments too. Sometimes these come from external factors like work stress, life disappointments, or family frustrations. Other times, it's actually the concoction of our own personalities, default reactions, and divergent perspectives mixing together that make for some interesting ingredients. Combine with our critical words, withdrawing natures, and emotional disparities, and we can easily craft a bitter cocktail!

But that's part of the wonder and gravity of marriage. On July 14, 2012, I declared my unwavering choice of Mr. Fleece, the person I want to be with for all of the unpredictable things and whose strengths far outnumber his shortcomings or blind spots. For all the "for better or worse" that has happened and all the "for better or worse" that lies ahead, I want him on my team, by my side, and at my back when it goes down.

There's bound to be plenty as we continue to navigate a crazy real estate market during a global pandemic and bump our family count up to five(!).

Loving you through the muck and the magic, 

-SJW

Life Wright Now | Spring 2020

Spring 2020 has provided ample space to rest, reflect, and read. With protests supporting anti-racism efforts without and two little babies growing within -- Wright twins coming this October! -- it's been difficult to pinpoint all that I've been thinking and feeling over the past several weeks. In my small little world, the days often roll right into the next with nothing significant to tell them apart. Meanwhile, in the world at large, Black lives have been taken left and right. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd.

No amount of mental gymnastics can whitewash the hate, cruelty, and injustice associated with their murders. Death itself is weighty, but when you add purposeful and unnecessary violence, discrimination, and racial prejudice, it morphs into something ugly and sinister. I've watched a few of the videos available, forcing myself to witness and acknowledge the horror, brutality, and assumed power of the white persons involved. In the past, it's somehow been easy to turn away from similar stories, forget, and truth-be-told, essentially dismiss what took place by not giving it much consideration or headspace. I'd like to change that pattern in myself. I know others around me are hoping to change as well. Perhaps collectively, this focused consideration and increased respect for people of color will lead to societal change, notwithstanding the immense police reform needed. I long for my children's generation to grow up in a world overflowing with empathy and equity, where headlines like these will live in the past.

WATCHING | PBS produced an incredible 4 hour series on the history of Reconstruction. Mr. Fleece and I started it on Juneteenth in an effort to reflect and learn about the post-Civil-war era and its link to current events. It's phenomenal and I can't recommend it highly enough!

EATING | Although it hadn't crossed my mind before, I've decided to prioritize these black-owned restaurants the next time I'm craving take-out with Mr. Fleece or making plans with a friend.
Central Cafe & Juice Bar (Central District)
Emma's BBQ (Hillman City)
Simply Soulful Cafe (Madison Valley)

READING | Ironically enough, I recently finished "Gone With The Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. The book paints a picture of the social conditions that continued long after Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox -- the persistent pride of the Confederacy, the immense poverty and despair, the nostalgia and longing for the "old south", and of course, the racial conflicts between former slaves and whites. While the historical setting was important and interesting (I've read lots of fiction placed during WWII but none during the Civil War), that's not why I loved the book. Mitchell's superb character descriptions, interactions, and dialogue, alongside the themes of survival & gumption, social status & expectations, fidelity & loyalty, virtue & morality, is what will stick with me.

LISTENING | Haven't jumped in yet, but I'm planning to check out Code Switch, an NPR podcast featuring conversations about race and how it impacts every part of society.

It's never too late to learn & grow, 

- SJW