Halfway mark!

It's the end of June...so halfway through the year! I'm proud and excited to say that I'm on book 57/100! (for those keeping track, that means I am AHEAD of schedule!....by almost a month.)

I've been asked if I am getting sick of reading, nope! Just about the opposite. I'm so sad when I don't have a lot of time to read, I'm consistently thinking about what I'm going to read next, and I've been wondering what my reading goal for next year should be. 

So anyway, here's what I read this month:

48. The book thief: Markus Zusak 

49. Call me Zelda: Erika Robuck

50. Boy 30529: Felix Weinberg

51. The diary of a young girl: Anne Frank (I had never actually read this before)

52. Paper towns: John Green

53. The chaos of stars: Kiersten White

54. An abundance of Katherine's: John Green

55. Measure for measure: William Shakespeare (getting ready for cedar/Shakespeare festival)

56. Comedy of errors: William Shakespeare 

I think my favorite this month was paper towns by John Green. I really like his style of writing. His stories are about teens and I feel like he can relate and he writes it all well. (you know how some older writers write about teens/young adults, but they don't even sound like a teen would talk/write? Well he's not like that......if that makes sense) 

**the book thief is one of my all time favorites, so I re-read it**

If you like lovey dovey books, the chaos of stars is for you. 

I have some books lined up, but I want to hear from you, what are your favorite books?

Key Lime Pie

Summer is the best time for key lime pie! Here is my favorite go-to recipe for this tart treat! 

One 14oz can sweetened condensed milk

3 egg yolks 

1/2 C key lime juice 

1 TB finely grated lime peel 

*One 9-inch graham cracker pie shell 

(I make my own) 

Whipped cream for garnish 

Mint leaves for garnish (optional)

*One sleeve (package) of graham crackers crushed 

About 3-4 TB butter melted

Pinch of sugar 

Combine and press into pie plate 

Add a pinch of sugar

For the pie: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees 

In a mixing bowl, combine the milk, egg yolks, lime juice, and lime peel and blend until smooth. Poor the mixture into the pie she'll and back in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. 

Remove from the oven and allow the pie to stand for approximately 10 minutes, then refrigerate. 

Enjoy plan or garnish with a dollop of whipped cream, mint, or both! 

*serves 6-8

The best of SLC summer.

Mike and I may or may not be moving to AZ in August. Chances are looking good we will be so I decided I want to have a last (for a few years) hurrah summer in UT before we go. And if we do stay, we'll have a great summer to look back on!

For this summer's list, I chose some of my favorite summery things and activities I haven't done in awhile, but will always remind me of a good old Utah summer. 

Here's what I have so far: 

-go on the ferris wheel

-visit our park as close to August 18 as we can

-go to the new aquarium

-have a family cook out

-visit my favorite hikes (cecret, donut falls, sunset up at ocean rock, red pine?)

-hike lake Mary/Martha and sunset peak

-hike to the waterfall up bells canyon

-camping (big cottonwood or backpacking)

-drive in

-chalk festival

-bees game

-swimming at alta canyon 

-African ice (original) 

Go to: straws &/ swig, Ruth's diner, lone star 

-s'mores (in the backyard) 

***any other ideas? What would you do if this were your last summer (for awhile) in Utah? 

But first, let me tell you what I've been reading.

May was a good month for reading! 

I read.....

38. A wrinkle in time- Madeleine L'Engle 

39. A wind in the door- Madeleine L'Engle 

40. A swiftly tilting planet- Madeleine L'Engle 

41. The reason I jump- Naoki Higashida (this book is written about autism by a boy who has autism; so interesting!) 

42. The happiness project- Gretchen Rubin (I read this every year)

43. The sun also rises- Ernest Hemingway 

**44. I never had it made- Jackie Robinson 

45. Forest gump- Winston Groom

**46. Looking for Alaska- John Green

**47. The nazi officer's wife- Edith Hahn Beer 

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**I never had it made is Jackie Robinson's autobiography. I love autobios and this one was so interesting! I learned a lot about Jackie outside of his baseball career. If you like autos, regardless of if you like sports, this was a good read. (this was my 3rd favorite for the month)

**Looking for Alaska is by the author who wrote the Fault in our stars. I loved this book! It was a quick, easy read. The story brought me in so much, I never wanted to put it down. I would definitely recommend this book. (this came in 2nd for the month)

**The nazi officer's wife is another autobiography. It takes place in ww2. Edith is a Jewish woman who ends up marrying a nazi officer during the war. Her life story is quite interesting. I love books about ww2, and this is definitely a must read! One of my favorites from the year. (#1 for the month) 

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As always, I want to know what you're reading, what you like, and what recommendations you have! 

{Let me know if you read any of these books and tell me how you liked them!}