Things I'm Into--November Edition

One of the blogs I read had a very fun post a week or so ago, a more light-hearted look at things she was into that month--shows, music, food, books etc--and she shared them with her readers.  I loved the idea.  Usually I just make a list in my journal each year about the things I was into that year (so I know that in 2004 I was obsessed with The West Wing re-runs and 2011 was the year of Mumford and Sons).  But I love the idea of thinking monthly about the little things that I find myself into, so I thought I'd try that here this month.  This is actually a list of November's items--December's list will have to come at the end of the month :)  So in no particular order, here's what's making my world go round these days...

Music:
The Story Soundtrack:  When I was in Iowa with my sister she reintroduced me to this amazing CD.  Last year she and my parents went to see the live tour of "The Story"--a collection of artists and musicians and videos and amazing other things that tell the story of Jesus from creation through redemption.  The music was all written for this production and each song tells the story of another character from scripture.  I can't get enough.  Abraham's, Esther's, Mary's, and Jesus' "songs" have been on repeat in my car for a month now.  You can actually order a DVD of the entire show and it's touring again this year so you can google to see if it's coming to a location near you!

Elizabeth Mitchell:  I cannot get enough of her music!  She has done a ton of children's albums that are AMAZING!  Everything has a little blue grass undertones, but her songs are classics--Froggy Went a Courtin, You Are My Sunshine, Hey Bo Diddley, and SO SO many others. Her music makes me want to cry it's so beautiful.  Yes, I'm a nerd.  Her Pandora station might be on constantly in my house these days. 

Renee & Jeremy: Another super awesome children's duo, music that is mellow and fun, and most importantly, won't drive mom nuts!  I'm all about starting this trend in our music early!  We have Renee and Jeremy on Pandora a lot these days too!

TV: My 2 new shows this fall are the NBC sitcom Go On with Matthew Perry, which I think is funny and sweet, and the Steve Harvey show which is on each afternoon.  I am love him!  Super practical relationship advice, fun segments, really down to earth--he definitely adds some fun to my afternoons!  My other 2 "regular" shows I continue watching are Ellen (and I love that my little one knows her theme music and stops what he's doing to wave his arms and smile at the TV) and Parenthood which I have faithfully watched all it's seasons.  I cry every single episode, I don't think a show has ever done that to me before!


Gilmore Girls: So this isn't a new show by any means, but I'm re-obsessed with it.  My best friend was cleaning out some stuff as she moved and decided it was time to part with her seasons of Gilmore Girls.  I said I was missing 3 seasons and so she sent them to me and I started watching immediately.  Oh man, I forgot how much I love this show.  It's usually on in the background as I am cleaning up after Aidan's in bed but it makes me smile a lot :)  The fast talking, witty, and charming Lorelai and Rory are part of my youth, and my early 30s apparently.

Food:  Have you ever tried Trader Joe's ice cream?  It's amazing.  Really, SO creamy, so delicious.  I'm a little obsessed with their Chocolate Caramel Swirl these days and have been waiting for their holiday ice cream to come out. 

The other new food find in my life is Butternut Squash Ravioli--we have eaten quite a few of these packages this fall, my husband and son even gobbling it up! 

On Thanksgiving we had a new wine that was incredible.  Hey Mambo is a "sultry red blend" (although they have a chardonay too I think) and I've had a tough time finding it, but it was so good it's been worth calling multiple stores.  I did find it at a wine store nearby but they were sold out.  At $8 a bottle it's a "splurge wine" for us (ie it's more than Two Buck Chuck...) but it's worth it for a special occasion!

Organizing: I just got my new dayplanner for the next year and I'm a little obsessed.  I kind of love it.  I found it through erincondren.com and really love all her stuff--very cute designs and colors and the options to personalize things.  She thought of everything in this planner:
a monthly view: 
 

 a weekly view

fun tabs, stickers, a zip lock pocket to keep things in, and lots of pages for notes/lists etc. I'm a big fan.

Advent Decorations:  I didn't put any Christmas decorations up this year, partly because Aidan would pull everything down (I'm out of child proof surfaces...) and partly because we won't be here for Christmas this year.  I did however decorate for Advent with some things I made at a MOPS craft night, and I'm loving the simple accents of purple around the apartment.  Traditionally in the church year the Christmas season is actually the 12 days AFTER christmas, so I'm contemplating maintaining the tradition of decorating for advent before Christmas and breaking out the red and green after Christmas....we'll see what I decide to do next year, but I like the idea. 

In the Blogosphere: Here are a few posts I loved this past month: 

I loved this one from Micah Boyett on Halloween--on Jesus and Saints and Death

This one from Addie Zierman on finding a church home was beautiful to me.

As was this one from her: 10 Reasons Why This Christian Mama Loves Halloween

Rachel Held Evan's brought me to tears with Sisters, Speak.

How about you? What are you into these days??