Bao and a book

Special thanks to warm weather and Gen 2 on Pokemon Go! I've walked more this week than like, the past 3 weeks combined!

#24: This week I read the Newbery Award winning book for 2017: The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. It was super good! I loved the interconnectedness of all the stories, and the emphasis on hope above all. The writing style is beautifully lyrical.

#69: We also made char siu pork and turned it into steamed bao buns. Heck. You guys. It was so much work, but so so worth it. Some of them exploded because we didn't seal them well enough. Guess we'll have to make them again for practice! Dang!

Cookies and Games

This week's cookies were rosemary shortbread. I've already talked about them a lot other places, but that's just because they were that delicious. I need the whole world to try these cookies.

Also cookie month is officially way better than bread month. I want to bake ALL THE COOKIES.

We also stumbled upon a game store's going out of business sale and bought two Spiel des Jahres award winning games: Tikal and Istanbul. Not only were they for my list, but they were also on sale, so it's okay for my 3 month money challenge! Now to learn and play them!

More Progress, Extra Credit

Don't worry guys, I'm fighting the slump! The world can't get me down!

Progress on two items I had to wait for:
They announced the Newbery award book for the year and I put it on hold at the library - The Girl Who Drank The Moon.
They announced the nominees for Best Animated Picture and I've already seen 3 of them. The other 2 will be playing in Salt Lake later this month.

I've started item 71, for which the intention was to only buy things on sale or couponed for 3 months. I quickly realized how impossible this is and I've adjusted: $200 budget for food each month, and anything else must be at a discounted price, by sale or by coupon. I'm also considering ignoring the rule if it's something for my list, but I think I need to stick with it. It will be over in April, and it will be good to recoup our holiday/tuition spending.

I've also baked like 3 cookies already. I'll definitely get extra credit for year of baking. When I bake one thing, it just makes me want to bake another!

Complete: 30. Keep a gratitude journal for 3 months

In November I started writing 3 things I was thankful for at the end of every day. I'd like to say it helped me focus on the positive, but even a gratitude journal couldn't combat the horrors of the last 3 months. Maybe that's too hyperbolic.
It does remind me that there is still good in the world, and the fight we have to make sure everyone can have good in their lives.
Anyway, this one is done. 8 total!

Sometimes I feel like the little things I'm doing just aren't enough. But I guess that's all any of us can do.