What Ana Does

A few friends recommended the Formula 1: Drive to Survive show on Netflix so I started watching it on my own one afternoon ... and have really gotten into it.  I think mostly because it's SUCH a departure from my usual interests. But also because there's interesting characters and it's a world that's totally new and foreign to me. So it's super fascinating. As I'm starting season 3, I started to think of all the new things I've learned about racing from the show ...   Did you know they are in those race cars for about 90 minutes? So not only is it taxing for the cars and tires, etc, but the drivers need to maintain that perfect focus for more than an HOUR on the track. I can't even imagine it how intense that is.  It's a rich, white man's sport. Just know that going in.  There are teams from all over Europe, but it's an English sport, so the official language is English. All the accents are entertaining.  Drivers must be pretty fit to compet...

It's been a while since I did a roundup of things I'm really into these days. So here it is ... A Discovery of Witches  - have you seen it? Did you read the books? I listened to all three (very long) audiobooks in 2015 and was completely sucked into this vampire-witch romance that is also a thriller ... and super detailed because the author is also a historian. ( Read my ode to Matthew and Diana  and Best Books from 2015 ) I heard it was made into a TV series by the BBC and saw some press in Paris and London, but it wasn't available for me to watch ... UNTIL NOW! As of this month, in the States, you can find it on AMC, on demand. I'm currently binging the season. Let me just say they are staying SO true to the books -- at least all that I remember with any clarity. They're hitting the lovey-dovey with creepiness vibe so well. And I always had trouble picturing Diana, but I really love the actress they choose. Actually, they're both perfect. Even if you did...

In the spirit of changing up the way we live in this house since being in Paris, we decided to hang the TV above the fireplace, thereby reorienting the entire family room. Or did we?? First, we set the TV on the mantle and moved the sofa, to test the experience. We decided the TV wasn't too high and it wasn't like we were craning our neck to watch our shows and movies. Next, we asked the electrician to add an outlet above the fireplace, so we could minimize the cords that hang down. Ideally, there would be no wires visible. Then, we hung the TV and I started to think about what we can hang around the TV. I was thinking the records we have hanging in the living room. And we stared at those wires hanging off the right. And that made us unhappy. We just couldn't figure out a way to hide that pesky coaxial cable wire! Everything else we were able to hide. And that was a dealbreaker. So until we cut the cable TV cord (which we're not ready to do yet) or when ...

There's frost on the ground and I just pulled out my puffy Northface coat ... so it must be November. Here's my latest list of what I'm loving right now. I've got the most fantastic print/shipping place just around the corner and I'm so grateful. With all the documents I need for the move, and all the stuff I'm shipping away, they're making my life just a little easier. And the guys there are so helpful and sweet! I used them in September to color print Alice's birthday invitations from this lovely Etsy shop , and it was super easy and not expensive. Don't you just love a small business with great customer service! Outlander: Jamie and Fergus (from EW.com) Guys, Outlander is back and I'm totally in love with it again. I have to say the Paris storyline last season was not my favorite, but this season is completely on fire. I've got a major crush on grown-up Fergus, though Jamie is still my main man. There are not many shows I consid...

My update is this: I'm home this summer and working with a few clients on a few part-time writing/researching projects, so that's pretty cool. A good start. I'm also selling cabi clothing and that's been fun and challenging, and gives me a community to be a member of, which I like. Here are the other things I'm liking right now ... Mina and Karen On My TV HGTV continues to be my go-to for TV programming. I'm not sure how I'd unwind without the good folks bringing me more home fixer-upper shows than I have time to watch. Recently, I binged the entire first season of Good Bones on demand. The new season also just started, so I've got some new episodes waiting for me to enjoy. I love how capable Mina and Karen are, they're mixed up family and their positivity. And they're brilliant designers and builders. I would immediately buy one of their houses if I lived in Indianapolis. Also, have you seen Home Town ? There's only a few episod...

Masterpiece Theater is killing it this month with queens, have you been watching? I don't watch much TV but lately I've looking for reasons (laundry, quilting, etc.) so I can binge. First, there's Victoria , which is dramatization of Queen Victoria's life starting at her coronation at age 18. She's this lovable, headstrong teen and her advisors want her married ASAP. First, she gives her heart to an older man ... but then meets up with cousin Albert and BOOM it's all over. Albert is German and shy in a Mr. Darcy kind of way. Lots of interesting facial hair. Totally adorable. I've been swept away by their love story and the actors portraying them. (Before you ask, yes, the actress playing Victoria looks exactly like Christina Ricci!) Then, if that wasn't enough British monarchy for you, they are also showing Secrets of Six Wives about Henry VIII and his doomed marriages. This is done almost like a movie -- with actors playing Henry and the wives...

The media area in the basement has been an ongoing conversation. Projector TVs, reusing TVs from other parts of the house, surround sound, wall mounted screens -- all terms that have been bandied about as we plan that all-important part of the basement. After a trip to Best Buy and Ikea, we've eliminated the idea of the projector TV and are now considering wall-mounting the TV. And a piece of furniture is being moved for below the TV, whether it's hung or not, to locate all the media components. The electrician and cable guys were good enough to cover a few scenarios so we can try various different set-ups. Check this out! They added two outlets -- one up high for the mounted TV option and one low for the various gaming consoles, etc, that will be set up on the shelves. They also added this genius PVC pipe (can you see it?) that will get walled in and used to feed cords through the wall and up behind the TV. Giving us NO VISIBLE WIRES! BAM! Also in this picture not...

We've been binging on Gilmore Girls episodes before the new-season/continuation starts on Netflix next week. I started with Season 4 and have been getting reacquainted with the characters of Stars Hallow. And I'm reminded how firmly I'm Team Jess!  Though, Logan does have his good qualities!! Team Jess All The Way Have been reading a little about the new season in Entertainment Weekly and hoping it will "fix" the awfulness that was season 7. The new episodes release at the end of this week on Netflix. Yippee!!

The transition to Fall has begun, school starts next week and most of what I was wigging out about at the beginning of the month is getting settled. I'm now looking forward to being on a much more rigid schedule. No really! Deep breath! Soccer is underway and I'm only assistant coaching -- trying to take a smaller role on the team. This team has an active team manager (yay!) and the head coach is used to being in charge. All good. Leah needs to get used to me not being on the coach's bench. However, being back on the soccer field always feels like going home, so I'm thrilled to be out there. I signed up for an  Honest Company bundle shipments --  mostly because I can't find good organic shampoo/conditioner that isn't over $12. And I like most of their products and sometimes can't get them at Target. In the last few boxes we've gotten, I've added new stuff to try out, too. And building up a sufficient stockpile of items we really like -- su...

Don't judge me but I loove award shows! And particularly the Golden Globes because I get to see TV and movie stars mingle. So last night, I sent the girls up to play Mario Kart, I poured myself a glass of wine and basked in the glory that is red carpet and award show hoopla. Not that I saw any of the movies or TVs up for awards -- that hardly mattered. Especially when Christian Slater high-fived Leo on the way to get his reward and my 15-year-old-self exploded. Or when Brad and Ryan were on stage together and my brain couldn't comprehend the hotness on my TV -- or maybe that was just the wine. Anyway... I also used my NEW pressure cooker last night for the first time, making a Beef, Barley and Vegetable Stew from the Martha Steward One Pot cookbook. The pressure cooker is a little intimidating to use, just think about all that built-up pressure sitting on your counter. Plus, you can't see into the thing to know what's going on inside there. But the stew came ou...

Outlander -- My favorite show, bar NONE, started back up this month for the second part of the first season and I'm living for each new episode on Saturday nights. It's. Just. That. Good! A Discovery of Witches -- I listen to audio books on my 40-minute commute to work and I've been particular about picking books that are 10 discs or less so I can finish them within a week. But for some reason I decided to give this story, with its 20 discs, a try. I'm halfway through and it will take me about two weeks to get through the whole story but I am loving it. This is what Twilight should have been -- with a DaVinci Code -like story thrown in. Violet Mackerel book series   -- The girls and I have been reading these books for the last few weeks before bed and I am absolutely in love with Violet. She's sensitive and thoughtful, and she creates all these adorable theories about the world around her. The girls and I discuss her stories and ideas even during the day. We ...

Lately I've been getting into a few things from the outside world more enthusastically than usual. So here's a roundup: - Death Comes to Pemberly on BBC Mystery! It's a sequel-ish to Pride and Prejudice written by a famous mystery writer. I don't usually give these Jane Austen-wanna-bes too much credit, but this seemed like fun. It was, er, interesting to see my favorite characters in all of lit -- Lizzie Bennett and Darcy -- continue their story and throw them into another crap-storm thanks to Wickham and Lydia. Lydia always ruins EVERYTHING! Once I finish it, I'm pretty sure I'll have to pick up P&P again for yet another re-read. Oh Lizzie, Iloveyouso. - Outlander.  First, you should know I didn't read these books, so I have no context. And this season is only 8 crazy episodes but if you haven't enjoyed the loveliness that is the Scottish accent, men in kilts or Jamie (hubba hubba), you really should. It's slow at times and Claire keeps t...

Geez! It took me long enough to clear out some time to watch the Outlander series on Starz. And OH BOY am I glad that I did. I knew this show was going to be right in my wheelhouse. History? Check. Pretty dresses? Yes. Romance? Oh yes. Handsome boy? Check! And he's in a kilt! And often shirtless! And with a thick Scottish accent! Does it get friggin better?! Claire, the main character, is growing on me. She's no damsel in distress, which is excellently refreshing. She yells and heads people and knocks out attackers with a chair. She takes care of herself. And she wears thick knit scarves and fingerless gloves, so now all I want to do is knit chunky accessories. The only drawback is I can't understand some of the dialogue because of the Scottish accents. They slip into Gaelic and back to English while I'm lost drinking in scenery or longing looks. But it's moving slow, so I'm not missing any big plot points (I don't think). I'm already on ep...

I have a pretty healthy dislike of boy bands. From teen years and on, there have been boy bands (Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, etc) and I've pretty much hated them. They don't play instruments or write their own songs (usually). They're not great singers on their own. And they're way too stylized; more a commodity or music industry product than musicians. Seriously. Ugh.  However, HOWEVER, there's always just one song from a boy band that I simply cannot deny.  One Direction, one of the latest to crop up, was never on my radar until they sang this song on SNL. And though the lyrics make no sense (it's almost anti-romantic) and their look is just WAY too young for most 30-somethings to understand (what is with that hair!) ... I can't stop listening and humming it. It's now on heavy rotation on my guilty pleasure playlist.  Warning: Once you hear the song, you may become hooked, too. 

In 2005 there was a little show on called Veronica Mars that I didn't watch. Back then I was in my 20s working until 6:30 or 7 each night and seeing a lot of concerts, plus, this was a time BEFORE DVR. Veronica Mars , a show about a teen detective, did not strike my fancy no matter how much my fellow YA-culture-obsessed friends loved it. I remember clearly the outrage of the fans when they cancelled the show -- and have followed the news as the fans pitched in to bring it back and finish out some story lines. Which is so cool. So, given the new movie, I decided to watch the pilot episode on Amazon Instant Video ... and then the next and then the next episode. I sped through the first season, trying to get the gist and by about episode 13 I couldn't turn it off. Totally hooked. Here's why I love Veronica ... she's a complex girl who's burdened with all these terrible secrets, including those of her peers, and because of this she has major trust issues. But...