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Good afternoon.  It's been a loooooong time...over a year, in fact.  When I last left you, my husband and I were well on our way to San Antonio.  In fact, the move to San Antonio coincided with the end of blogging.  And, well, to be honest it's so darn easy to not blog.

I received quite a few requests to continue blogging.  In fact, there were requests to take pictures of our new place and post them.  Then, to continue with the reading and cooking escapades while we were down there.  It was hard to even think of blogging when I was busy unpacking, transferring everything from car tags to driver's licenses to mail to...well, you name it.  If you've ever gone through a move, you know what I'm talking about.

And then, well, to be honest in six short months, David and I were done with San Antonio.  It didn't take David long to realize that the position he took was not suiting him and that he needed to make a change.  Another one.  The opportunity that was most appealing ended in a move to Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Which is where we now reside, and have since November.  Tulsa is just under four hours from his parents' and almost exactly and an hour and a half from mine.  Much better than the 11 and 8 hour trips we were taking from San Antonio, albeit for a short time.

So, add on to the fact that I was unpacking and transitioning everything from Oklahoma City to San Antonio tooooo...packing again.  Yea...blogging was the last thing on my mind.  At present, David and I have lived in Tulsa for approximately the same amount of time that we lived in San Antonio...which, is kinda crazy to ponder.  Our life has changed so much within the past year.

Anyway, my point of this entire post is to say that I'm back.  Surprisingly, I'm still receiving requests to blog...after a whole year.  And it makes me feel loved and appreciated.  I'm not sure how much I'll blog or how often.  Just let me get back into the swing of things first.  But, I am officially back.

Now, to recap, this blog is primarily a cooking/baking and reading blog.  I do throw in the occasional craft item and personal information tidbit.  In this post, I'll update you on what my new and fabulous kitchen looks like...just so you can see where all the magic is happening.  And I'll update you on my favorite books from the past year.  Luckily, I still keep up with my Shelfari and can tell on the blog where I last stopped sharing with you guys.

First up, my favorite room in the house.  Can we say love?

I love my kitchen...for realz.  And I cook in it at least once daily.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner...so, sometimes three times a day.  It has loads of storage and counter space.  And a gas stove...have you ever cooked with a gas stove?  Love, love, love it.  Everything cooks so much faster and more evenly.  If your kitchen has the option, go for it.

Next up...books.  It would appear my last book review was for The Forgotten Garden, which was wonderful.  Here's a list of my favorite reads since then...

Lone Survivor, by Marcus Luttell with Patrick Robinson

The entire Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins

 

Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy, by Lisa See

Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith

A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness

The BOND, by Wayne Pacelle

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

A Stolen Life, by Jacee Dugard

Tuesdays with Morrie, by Mitch Albom

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver

Gone With the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell

Half the Sky, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot

Roses, by Leila Meacham

The House at Riverton, by Kate Morton

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson

 The Kitchen House, by Kathleen Grissom

Now, while these are the "best of the best" that I read last year, the ones that I've included the book cover for are my absolute favorites for the year.  In fact, Gone With the Wind is my all-time favorite book now.  If you've only ever seen the movie OR neither read the book nor seen the movie...go.get.it.now.  The movie leaves out SO MUCH.  I understood so much more about what was going on and why people acted the way they did after reading the book.  So, so, so good.  No wonder it's a classic.  You'll see.  And The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks...best non-fiction book I've read...EVER.  Read it.  Now.

Alright...now that we're somewhat caught up...come back again soon!  I promise I'll be posting regularly again!