Cabin in the City

Books, cats and midwestern charm.

Oh Baby! Sewing Projects for Pregnancy

11.15.24 | Make

30 Days of Thanks 2024 // Week 1

11.08.24 | Life

A Baby Is Brewing!

10.31.24 | Life

The Best Scary Podcasts for October and Beyond

10.20.24 | Life

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Oh Baby! Sewing Projects for Pregnancy

Filed Under: Make Tagged With:

Some people get the urge to clean or nest during pregnancy. I got the urge to sew, sew and sew some more. Here’s what I’ve made for our baby’s arrival (and a few projects I hope to get to later).

Baby Quilt (+ Matching Pillow)

I would describe myself as an enthusiastic (but far from experienced) quilter. I got into the hobby a few years ago with small projects, like table runners and coasters, and picked up steam by making baby quilts for friends and a memory quilt for a dear family friend.

When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to make a quilt just as special as those projects for my own child. Right away, I knew the theme would be woodsy and earthy. After a few browsing sessions at Patched Works not far from home, I settled on a combination of deer, mushroom, feather, star and plant-printed fabrics.

And because all the patterns were just so perfect, I didn’t want to over-complicate the design. I opted for this simple checkered quilt pattern from Cotton Studio on Etsy. It was easy to modify the size and a relief to just cut the same shape for the whole project. I even had enough leftover for a small pillow.

Burp Cloths

My mom was a prolific burp cloth maker. She loved buying cute flannel fabrics and turning them into this nursery essential. My mom’s burp cloths have been used by her friends’ children, her friends’ grandchildren and even my friends’ kids. She just really enjoyed making a cute, functional and easy project.

That’s why she had a small stash of burp cloths and bibs hanging out in her sewing room. You never know when you might need a shower gift! Well, I took all those extras, and then went on to make about a dozen of my own (plus some for two friends who recently had babies).

I also want to shout out my friend Irina who returned a batch of my mom’s burp cloths to me at my baby shower. It’s really touching to have a project my mom made and one that was so loved by a good friend.

Flannel Blanket

I found this super cute animal flannel at Joann, so like any sewist with poor impulse control, I bought the rest of the bolt. Some of that fabric became burp cloths, but the bulk became a simple whole-cloth quilt.

I made this by just sewing two pieces of flannel together and binding them. It’s thicker than a basic swaddle or receiving blanket but not as heavy as the quilt I made. This one is going to the hospital with us.

What I might have enjoyed most about this blanket and the quilt was getting to sew in these “Made by Mom” labels from Sarah Hearts on Etsy.

Maybe More Projects!

I had hoped to tackle a few more projects before the baby’s arrival, but, as you can imagine, I’ve run out of steam in these final weeks. Here are a few things I have planned for the future:

  • Mobile: I cut out the shapes and began to hand stitch some figures for a baby mobile, but it’s a lot of work at 37 weeks pregnant. I know the baby won’t sleep in his room for a few months, so maybe I can tackle this by the time he’s ready for the crib.
  • St. Nick stockings: My goal was to make new stockings for the whole family (including the cat). I love holiday fabrics, and I have a good amount at home to pull from, but some things just take time (after all, it took me three years to make a very simple set of Bob’s Burgers ornaments for our tree!). This will be a 2025 project.

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30 Days of Thanks 2024 // Week 1

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I’ll admit it: This week doesn’t make me want to jump up and down with gratitude. Life feels unbearably heavy, and the dread I feel thinking about the political landscape over the next four years is insurmountable. I know that feeling is shared by (and is so much more pronounced for) others. Know that I feel the difficulty of this moment and those to come acutely.

That all being said, I know there is still a lot of good to be cherished in the world (Tammy Baldwin will still be representing Wisconsin in the senate!). To help me put one foot in front of the next in terms of gratitude, I’m going to continue a November tradition of mine: the @positivelypresent Gratitude Challenge.

Since 2018, I’ve dedicated space on this blog to reflect on the year with this gratitude series. As hard as this moment is, I don’t want to stop now. I know there are still wonders to behold and moments to be grateful for. So let’s start.

Day 1: Comfort

In hard times, in busy times, in times when you need some rest, take your comforts where you can get them. Lately, those comforts have been very literal (like finding a pair of very cushy Allbirds shoes at Nordstrom Rack), but sometimes those comforts are nice routines like picking up a mint mocha and taking a minute to read. I try not to let these small treats to myself go unnoticed.

Day 2: Animals

Each year I am thankful for our pets. I still am! But this year, I want to extend my feelings to Daisy, my mom’s cat. After my mom passed away, there was a lot of discussion about what would happen with Daisy. My dad wasn’t up to keeping her, but we all wanted her to have a good home.

I’m very grateful to my aunt who took Daisy in. I’m so glad that Daisy is still part of our family, and that I get to see her whenever I visit (even if she never wants to sit by me).

Day 3: Time

A thousand years wouldn’t be long enough to spend with the people you love, but I’m grateful for every minute I spent with those I love best this year (especially my mom).

Also a major thanks to my friend Brianna of Alternative Bride Photography. She gave a major gift of her time to make lovely photos like the one above happen.

Day 4: Routine

I have off every Friday with my current job. It allowed me to create a routine, for a while at least, of visiting my parents every Friday.

Until my mom died, I spent Friday afternoons playing cribbage with them. While this routine didn’t last as long as I hoped, I’m really grateful that I got this time to enjoy with both of them.

Day 5: Hope

This year has been so so hard. But expecting a baby is giving me a lot of hope for what is to come.

Day 6: Weather

This summer, I had one mission: to float on a raft in an outdoor pool with a good book. That was it!

To make this happen (and to get some much-needed time away from work), Michael and I went on a short trip to Lake Geneva. While it was a pretty rainy trip overall, I’m so grateful the weather held out enough for me to check a good float off my list. I’m also very grateful for taking the trip in general. It was a really good way to spend some time together.

Day 7: Creativity

After my mom passed, I really struggled with creativity. Without my mom around, who was I going to make things for? Who would I talk crafts with? Who would look at what I made with such kind eyes?

But having a baby on the way has re-energized that part of me. After the tiresome work of the first trimester, I felt really excited to tackle all kind of baby sewing projects, like burp cloths, a receiving blanket, and a small patchwork quilt.

Making will never be the same without my mom here, but she definitely still inspires me. I’m grateful that her spirit is never far!

Day 8: Growth

I’ve found a certain amount of calm in surrendering to the physical changes of pregnancy. So much of the process is beyond my control, including the size of my belly and how much rest I need. I’m grateful that during this stage of life, I can just sit back and be grateful for what on its way.

I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Stay tuned, and please share what you’re grateful for in the comments.

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A Baby Is Brewing!

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There’s definitely magic in the air over here! We’re expecting a baby this December.

We’ll be keeping our baby off the internet, but I couldn’t help sing the praises of my incredible family (in particular my sister-in-law Kate) for putting a Halloween-themed shower together. Also I have to shout out my girl Brianna of Alternative Bride Photography for doing the most by being a great friend and a rock star behind the camera.

After an incredibly difficult year, it is a joy to feel so much love.

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What I Read // October 2024

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Normally I’m neck-deep in scary stuff all October long. This year is very different. While I still love all the spooky vibes, this particular season of life requires focus elsewhere.

That being said, I don’t have as many scary tales to recommend as in the past. I But you can check out my list of Halloween books and some great Halloween podcasts.

The September House by Carissa Orlando • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

FINALLY. A GHOST STORY WITH LOTS OF GHOSTS (AND NOT JUST THE IDEA OF GHOSTS).

This is not a spoiler. In the first chapter of The September House, you learn that each September, Margaret and Hal’s house is haunted by a coterie of noisy ghosts, regularly drips blood down the walls and absolutely rumbles with rattles and moans.

The mystery here is why does Margaret stay? Why did her husband decide to suddenly leave even though the house is perfect 11 months out of the year? Why has her daughter never bothered to visit until this September?

The September House layers on the ghosts and mysteries chapter after chapter, and then does a great job peeling them all back. I highly recommend this one—particularly in audiobook form!

Read if you like: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix, The Family Plot by Cherie Priest

The Devil and Mrs. Davenport by Paulette Kennedy • ★★★★☆

This is my third Paulette Kennedy book. Every time I pick up one of her novels, I don’t recognize I’ve read her before. I think that’s because while her writing is consistently good, she doesn’t tie herself to a single genre or setting. With that in mind, The Devil and Mrs. Davenport is very different from The Witch of Tin Mountain and Parting the Veil. It also might be Kennedy’s best work yet.

The Devil and Mrs. Davenport is set in 1950s Missouri. Loretta is a stay-at-home mom to two children. Her husband teaches theology at a nearby college. After a severe fever, Loretta finds that she has a second sense about certain events and people—in particular a recent murder in town. Essentially, she’s discovered she’s a medium of sorts.

Her husband, being extremely religious, finds this to be blasphemous. Loretta explains that she thought her visions were a gift from God. Of course he says that’s wrong and she should repent.

This dynamic sets up the tension for the rest of the novel. I don’t want to spoil it too much because the way it builds and falls apart is really a wonder.

I will say, this book might not be a good fit for everyone. As noted in the book itself, there is mention of domestic abuse and violence. So be aware as you go in.

Read if you like: Empire of the Wild by Cherie Dimaline

Let Him In by William Friend • ★★☆☆☆

I find movies like The Babadook pretty scary. Essentially anything that has to do with imaginary friends or terrifying childhood visions creeps me out. That’s why I thought Let Him In would be a good fit when I saw it at the library. (It wasn’t.)

After the death of his wife, Alfie’s twin daughters start to play with an imaginary friend called Black Mamba. Black Mamba is sometimes a man but he can take animal form too. The twins are obsessed with their friend, so much so that Alfie consults his sister-in-law Julie (his dead wife’s twin)/psychologist to counsel them.

I was 90% through this book and debated putting it down. I wasn’t getting any heebie-jeebies. The plot was going in circles with no chill factor whatsoever.

Keep up with what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

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The Best Scary Podcasts for October and Beyond

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I’ve got a few seasonal reads lined up for this month (and here are some of my favorite spooky reads of all time), but I’ve been spending a bit more time with podcasts lately as I tackle projects around the house.

Back in 2018, I assembled this list of Halloweeny podcasts, but there are more amazing listens out there than ever! Here are more creepy listens to get you into the Halloween spirit:

Spooked

To me, Spooked, hosted by Glynn Washington, is the gold standard of scary podcasts. Glynn opens each show up with a haunting rhyme or story of his own, and then sets up people to tell their terrifying tales. These range from classic hauntings to odd premonitions to unexplained sightings.

The production on this podcast is phenomenal. There is no obvious (or irritating) interviewing, and the stories are all punctuated by the perfect creepy sounds.

If you ask me, these are the episodes you should start with (though all are worth your while:

  • Lost in Time (this is my favorite podcast episode of all time!)
  • The Paperboy
  • Take Me Home

The Midnight Library

This podcast is a little kooky and I love it. The Midnight Library is led by a fictional host and maybe-witch Miranda Merrick as she dives into real history about the unusual and supernatural.

As you listen, you’ll get to know some of the ancillary characters like Mr. Darling, a werewolf, and Irma the demon. It’s very Addams Family-meets-Stuff You Missed in History Class.

Here are some of my favorite episodes:

My Victorian Nightmare

Folks in the Victorian era were absolute freaks — and I love it. In My Victorian Nightmare, host Genevieve Manion walks you through some of the creepy history of the era, like people’s strange obsession with vampires, deadly fashion trends (no, not corsets!), and seances.

Ghost Church

I find the rise of spiritualism super fascinating. How did three teenage sisters from Rochester, New York give rise to a whole movement of seances and communing with the dead? It’s wild!

Spiritualism in its current form is also wild! In Ghost Church, Jamie Loftus explores what the spiritualist faith looks like today. She travels to Cassadaga, speaks with mediums, and tries to get in touch with what makes it all so appealing (plus history!).

This is limited series, so I recommend you listen to every episode. And then listen to Jamie’s other projects like Aack Cast.

And if you’re looking for some single listens, here are some of my favorite scary season episodes from non-spooky podcasts:

You’re Wrong About

You’re Wrong About is a great podcast anytime of year. In it Sarah Marshal (and once-upon-a-time Michael Hobbes) and a guest dig into topics we think we know all about but definitely do not. It’s thoughtful, it’s funny — what more could you want?

Here are my favorite scary-adjacent episodes:

You Are Good

You Are Good is also co-hosted by Sarah Marshall. She just does podcasting right, IMO. In this series, she and her co-host walk dissect favorite movies along with a guest. It’s a simple premise, but I find Sarah and her insights so endearing.

Here are some episodes I love about scary (or sort-of scary) movies:

Happy haunting and happy listening, all! May your Halloween be spooky and delightful!

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What I Read // September 2024

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Only three books this month! That’s pretty measly for me, but I’m still ahead on my Goodreads goal for the year (I’ve read 36 out of my 40!).

The Guncle by Steven Rowley • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

The Guncle was the perfect story with which to wrap up summer reading. In it, Patrick, a former sitcom star living in Palm Springs, gains custody of his niece and nephew for the summer after his best friend-turned-sister-in-law dies.

Patrick doesn’t understand children or how to help them grieve alongside him. He does, understand, though the importance of a good brunch, pool parties and the right ensemble for the day.

It might seem like a schmaltzy or gimmicky plot, but let me assure you, like its protagonist, this book is funny, outlandish and, on occasion, surprisingly sincere.

Read if you like: The House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

The House of Last Resort by Christopher Golden • ★★★★☆

Occasionally those news stories pop up where some far-flung place is offering homes for €1. Sounds like a dream, until you realize you’ll have to live in the boonies of Slovenia or Finland.

Well, that’s what happens to the couple, Tommy and Kate, in this novel. They pay the €1 and move to a small town in Sicily. It’s great because the house is huge! It’s near Tommy’s grandparents! It’s Italy!

But sometimes they hear stuff at night. And where are all the rats coming from? What happened with Nonno? He got super weird! Oh, and the house is near some ancient catacombs? SHOULD BE FINE.

I loved how this book kept layering on bits of eeriness until they could no longer be ignored.

Read if you like: Diavola by Jennifer Thorne, The Woman in the Castello by Kelsey James.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix • ★★★★☆

This is the fourth Grady Hendrix book I’ve read. While it wasn’t as scary (or silly) as the others, it’s still a great read to kick of Spooky Season (these are my favorite Halloween books, BTW!).

In the forward, Hendrix writes that for this book, he essentially wanted to pit his mom against Dracula and see who would come out on top. How gruesome and delightful! This was a great read for so many reasons, including the early ’90s nostalgia.

Read if you like: Grady Hendrix, My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine, Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Keep up with what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

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What I Read // August 2024

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August is typically my biggest book month of the year, but without my family’s annual trip up north, I didn’t read very much. What I did read fell a bit flat (with the exception of another book by Riley Sager.

But let my reads be your guide anyway. Maybe there’s something in here that will speak to you a bit more!

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan • 🎧 • ★★★☆☆

This book has been on my radar for a while. I was intrigued by a haunted house book that wasn’t on some cliff in England or an old home in New England. The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years follows two Indian families who emigrated to South Africa, and the haunting isn’t your standard ghost.

In the present day, teenager Sana explores the multi-family home she and her father just moved to. Sana is haunted by the death of her mother and twin sister. She fills her days exploring the history of her new home.

Decades earlier, you learn about one of the home’s original inhabitants: Meena, a second wife to a businessman who feels unwelcome there. While Sana uncovers Meena’s story, the house grows spookier (but really not that spooky, IMO).

But I felt like there was some tension and scares missing here. I enjoyed the stories (particularly Meena’s) but was left wanting more.

Read if you like: I’m not sure I have a good parallel here! Sorry, folks!

The Clinic by Cate Quinn • ★★☆☆☆

I hate to admit it, but I picked this book up 100% based on the cover. A scary Victorian-style house perched on a cliff in the fog? It was giving The Sanatorium vibes, and I had to rent it.

But this book was too long, not nearly atmospheric enough, and was full of characters I didn’t care about. Also, some of the timelines seemed off to me. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention.

So what’s it all about? Well, after the death of her sister, Meg checks into the rehab clinic where her sister died in hopes of finding some answers. While there, she keeps to herself, suspects everyone and essentially treads water for the bulk of the book.

The story is also told from the point of view of the clinic’s manager who starts to suspect that the treatments there aren’t on the up-and-up.

Read if you like: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse.

Home Before Dark by Riley Sager • ★★★★☆

Riley Sager does it again. In Home Before Dark, Maggie returns to her childhood home after her family fled it 30 years prior. Unlike her parents and readers of her father’s famous book, she doesn’t think it’s haunted; she thinks it should be flipped.

This book flashes between Maggie’s experiences in the present day (including nosy reporters, odd neighbors and a helpful handyman) and bits from her dad’s book. Was her dad’s story all for the money? Is it haunted at all? I loved guessing!

I also loved how this book drew a lot from the creation of The Amityville Horror, but made it good.

Read if you like: The Family Plot by Cherie Priest or any other books by Riley Sager.

The Unmothers by Leslie J. Anderson • ★★★☆☆

I read somewhere that The Unmothers should be added to the folk-horror cannon. I’m not sure it’s quite that good (but it’s not that bad!).

Here, journalist Marshall gets sent to a rural Southern town to investigate a rumor that a horse gave birth to a human baby. Intriguing! Once Marshall arrives, though, she suspects this is all a hoax. However, something else mysterious is happening in this town.

The first half of The Unmothers was a little too detective-y for me. But once the supernatural elements came into play (far too late in my opinion) this book picked up.

Read if you like: Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey or Diavola by Jennifer Thorne.

Keep up with what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

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What I Read // July 2024

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I have a backlog of Libro.fm credits which means this month is full of summer releases. Truly what a treat, especially since some of my favorite authors, like Lucy Foley and Riley Sager, have new books.

Also, if you’re on the fence about some of these reads, I’ve added a “read if you like” section. Maybe that’ll help you find a new fave (or avoid something that might be a waste of time for you). Anyways, on with the summer reads!

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

Lucy Foley does summer reading right. In The Midnight Feast, she transports you to a remote yet dreamy vacation destination in northern England. At this manor turned luxury retreat, the wealthy mingle and bask in the glow of health guru turned hotelier Francesca.

But what’s Francesca’s deal? What’s the only single traveler doing there? What’s up with all the feathers?

This story took some time to unravel, and I delighted in every moment. Bring this new release on vacation!

Read if you like: The Club by Ellery Lloyd, The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

It’s hard to believe that the first Riley Sager book I picked up (Lock Every Door) had me less than impressed. Since then, every book from Sager has been four or more stars.

In the latest outing and great summer book, Sager plops you right into suburbia. There, Ethan reckons not only with returning to his family home after years away, but also to where his best friend disappeared decades prior.

Sager does a great job of making a pleasant subdivision and its residents seem unseemly. And maybe there is a phantom in the woods?

Read if you like: Any other Riley Sager books, The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

This new summer book definitely hit on a lot of themes you’ll see on my read shelf: mystery, rural settings, summer camp, wealthy families, not-so-wealthy locals. But just because the themes are familiar, doesn’t mean The God of the Woods is one to skip.

I got pretty invested in listening to this one! In this novel by Liz Moore, a young teenage girl goes missing at summer camp. It’s scary and sad; it’s also suspicious since her brother went missing in the same area years prior. So are the two connected or is this fancy family just cursed?

You’ll want to find out, and I won’t spoil it for ya!

Read if you like: Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Funny Story by Emily Henry • ★★★★☆

I think that Emily Henry books sell themselves at this point. They are always charming, always satisfying and always are read in just a few sittings.

I did love the new-to-me setup of Funny Story: Daphne’s fiance breaks off their engagement; meanwhile Miles’s girlfriend dumps him — to couple up with that same fiance. While the dust settles, Daphne and Miles are thrust together to sort out their lives in the small town where all four live.

I have to say this was a smash for a summer read. It’s set over the course of the season on a coastal town in Michigan. While Michigan isn’t the same as Wisconsin, it definitely gave me a Door County feeling — always a plus in summer.

Read if you like: Any other Emily Henry books, One Night on the Island by Josie Silver

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer • ★★☆☆☆

The premise of We Used to Live Here had me from the jump: A couple moves into an old home with hopes of flipping it. During renovations, a family drops by asking to see inside since the father grew up there. Despite assurances that they’ll be 15 minutes, the family does not leave. This terrifies me. It’s the very basic premise of Funny Games, a movie that still haunts me if I think about it for too long.

This core made We Used to Live Here pretty scary to me! Plus, some of the supernatural elements really gave me the heebie jeebies. But overall, this book fell flat for me for a few major reasons:

  1. This book originally began as installments on Reddit. It still read that way to me. It could have used some more sophisticated editing, IMO.
  2. The structure of this book included prose, found documents, and reports. The latter devices felt a bit lazy to me. Or online forum-y.
  3. It just ended. I felt like the author didn’t quite know how to wrap up the story or, at the very least, provide a satisfying cliffhanger. This lack of of a conclusion felt very Reddit/comments section to me.

Read if you like: Episode Thirteen by Craig DiLouie and Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal • ★★★★☆

I picked this book up at the end of the summer last year, right around the time my family visits our favorite supper club together (that’d be The Ranch in Hayward, WI). But it was a tender time, and I didn’t want to read about the rise and fall of a Midwest supper club. But this July, I did, and I’m glad I cracked this one open.

Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club follows four women across four generations. Each has a totally different relationship with the family’s Minnesota restaurant and those who work there. I liked the tension between each generation and the hominess of the woodsy part of the Midwest. It made me wish I had a family business to love and gripe about.

Read if you like: Last Summer at the Golden Hotel by Elyssa Friedland

Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne • ★★★☆☆

One more scary tale to cap off the month! I was in the mood for thrillers and ghosts and supernatural scares. Diavola delivered.

In this newer release, a family vacations together in an Italian villa. The trip is fine. Sure, the siblings have their snits and the brother’s new boyfriend is insufferable, but nothing a quaint town and some past can’t fix, right?

Wrong. After snooping around the rental, suspicious things start to happen: there are noises at night, food starts rotting overnight, and everyone is on edge. Or maybe just one person?

I enjoyed the family drama and the spookiness of Diavola quite a bit, but I didn’t fine any of the characters to be people I wanted to root for. It was a fun read, great for summer (particularly when you’re reading from a raft in a lake far from Italy).

Read if you like: HBO’s White Lotus season two, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.

Keep up with what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

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What I Read // May + June 2024

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According to Goodreads, I’m pretty much on-pace with my 2024 goal of finishing 40 books. Here’s what I picked up in the last throes of spring and early summer.

Where You End by Abbott Kahler • ★★★☆☆

I try not to critique books (or TV or movies or whatever) for what they aren’t or for what I thought they should have been.

But like with Mister Magic, the premise of Where You End was so intriguing yet the story wasn’t what I hoped for. In Where You End, Kat awakes from a coma with no memories. Her identical twin sister Jude fills her in on what she’s forgotten—or does she?

What Kat has forgotten is the time she and her sister spent in a new age-y cult. It sounds great, but I was underwhelmed.

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley • ★★★☆☆

A witchy read in the middle of spring? Sometimes you just can’t control when your number at the library is going to be called.

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon was better than I though considering how absolutely daft the title sounds. Like many other witchy rom-coms, the main character, Mariel, struggles with her magic. Is she the worst-ever witch or is she just good at some very niche spells?

Throughout the book, Mariel begins to find out, even if it means accidentally summoning and falling in love (real or not) with a demon.

This book was charming, but nothing I insist that you pick up—particularly outside of witchy reading season.

In Charm’s Way by Lana Harper • ★★★☆☆

This is the fourth installation in The Witches of Thistle Grove series. I enjoyed the first three books, but I’ll say that I really didn’t care for this one.

Delilah, the protagonist in In Charm’s Way was sympathetic and I really enjoyed how Harper picked up her story from the previous book and gave her a monumental challenge to overcome.

What I didn’t care for was the love interest in this story. Or rather—SPOILER—how this terrible love interest returned and managed a second chance. Ick.

The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan • ★★★★☆

I never know what to expect with domestic thrillers. Sometimes they’re un-put-down-able. Other times I know why they were a $1.99 Kindle deal or always available at the library.

The Manor House delivered in a big way for me. I ripped through this one in about four days.

Why was it so good? An English couple wins the lottery and moves into their dream home packed with fancy smart features, big windows and a pool. They live near some very fancy neighbors with their own live-in housekeeper. Their new life has them almost forgetting all about their weird friend who keeps asking for more money and random hikers that keep hiking through their yard.

But then the husband is found dead in the pool. And of course it’s great because there are plenty of feasible suspects. And his drowning might not even be the only mystery! And smart home features are scary! (Don’t tell my Nest thermostat which I fully believe has a mind of its own.)

The Secrets of Hartwood Hall by Katie Lumsden • ★★★☆☆

A governess flees her hometown after the death of her husband to take a new post for a mysterious family at a dilapidated manor far from home? Sign me up.

The Secrets of Hartwood Hall has almost all the gothic elements you could ever want. Not enough ghosts for me, but still a nice read. Yes, I’m deducting a star for lack of ghosts.

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware • 🎧 • ★★★★☆

I love a good Ruth Ware read. In a Dark, Dark Wood and One by One are such good snowy thrillers, and I was thrilled to find that her latest outing was set somewhere tropical.

One Perfect Couple hits on a lot of really great tropes in terms of summer reading and page-turning thrillers: a reality TV show, mismatched couples, shipwrecks, remote islands, and DRAMA.

I won’t share more because if you like Ruth Ware’s work or any of the tropes above, you’ll be in good hands with this one. I’d also recommend One Perfect Couple if you liked Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins.

Keep up with what I’ve read over on Goodreads! Also, if you’re an audiobook fan, I encourage you to try Libro.fm—you can support your favorite small bookstore while downloading your next listen.

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What to Say (and Not Say) at a Funeral

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My mom died back in March. In mid-April, my family held her funeral. It was obviously terrible, but it was also really comforting and healing. I am so grateful to many of my mom’s friends and some loved ones of my own for coming to pay their respects and to check on my family.

Despite being really, really hard, so many folks shared so many thoughtful words and stories. I treasure those moments as I grieve.

With this all in mind, I want to share what I found most touching and helpful at my mom’s service (and honestly at others I’ve attended too).

What to Say at a Funeral

  • “I remember when…” I love to hear memories. If you have a heartfelt, goofy or just plain nice story, please share it with the family as you work your way through the receiving line.
  • “They were such a great…” Tell someone what an amazing person the deceased was. Were they a wonderful listener? A fun coworker? A first-rate gardener? Terrific at mixing a Tom Collins? These remarks can help remind you how incredible your loved one was—or can even give you some unknown insight into their talents or character.
  • “You remind me of them.” The highest compliment I could ever be paid.

What to Do at a Funeral

  • Bring a treat or gift. My friend Gina brought me a chocolate croissant during my mom’s visitation. She had it packaged up to take home to enjoy later. My friend Katie dropped off a card with a grocery store gift card. These gifts were really appreciated (and they were super useful to keep me fortified the day-of and days after).
  • Send flowers. When in doubt, send flowers. They are a visual reminder of your support (plus my mom loved plants).
  • Make a donation. Some families may suggest donations can be made to a particular cause to honor the deceased. This is a great way to show your respects. If a family hasn’t chosen any certain organization, choose one you support or one you think the deceased would appreciate (provided it’s not political or religious in a way the deceased wouldn’t like; this is not the time to rile up a family). Great options always include humane societies, libraries, environmental causes and food pantries.
  • Write a card. Sometimes funerals and receiving lines are busy. If you have words to share, write them down! They’re a nice token to revisit later.

What Not to Say at a funeral

Even though most came to the funeral with kind intentions, there were still some more challenging conversations. I know that death is hard. I know funerals can be uncomfortable, but here are a few things to just not get into at a visitation or service (besides the obvious topics to avoid in polite conversation):

  • “How did they die?” This one really stung. Someone walked up to me and said, “Oh I thought your mom was sick or something was wrong. What happened, and how did she die?” I understand the curiosity, especially when someone isn’t particularly old, but please, do not ask (or at least do not ask the family). It’s really painful to rehash the details of someone’s physical decline in the midst of an extremely difficult day.
  • “They weren’t looking so great.” Trust me: A grieving person knows this. They know that their loved one wasn’t feeling or looking their best. Do not point this out. It does nothing to console. It’s insensitive and insulting.
  • Any comments about the appearance of the deceased. My mom was cremated, so there was no viewing. However, I’ve been at many a funeral with an open casket. Don’t make any remarks on how a person looks. Don’t say they don’t look good. Don’t say they look peaceful. Don’t say they look like they just fell asleep. Even if the words are honest, they aren’t always ready to be received. And under no circumstance comment on how the deceased doesn’t look good. Please.
  • Any critical comments about the visitation, viewing, service, eulogy, etc. Didn’t like the songs? Wish there were more photos? Thought the service was long? Keep it all to yourself. The people that organized the day are sad, they are struggling and they are doing their best. Good vibes only.

Depressing? You bet! But I hope this is helpful to people trying to support friends in need.