Not a lot of reading this month (although I’m convinced I read another book and just forgot to list it, and can’t remember it. But the dates don’t make sense from my records for there not to be another book I omitted.) I spent a lot of my “spare” time getting up to speed on Usborne-related stuff. Add in some sick kids, a taekwondo tournament, house guests, and other holiday-prep and the month vanished in a snap.
November 2015 in Stats
Books Read This Month: 8
Books Read For The Year: 101
Things That Happened
Thanksgiving. With lots of pie and chicken enchiladas. I couldn’t get motivated to fix a full turkey dinner.
The kids did a taekwondo tournament & that was fun, if RIDICULOUSLY CROWDED. I could barely move.
I kicked off my Usborne business – thank you so much to those who have placed orders with me! I’ve got two more parties coming up this week and then I’m ready to start booking for January, as I’ll be taking off the rest of December from any events. I’m finalizing some rewards I’ll be offering to January hosts, including an extra one for the first person to book a January party.
Best Things I Did or Saw
The kids at the tournament. G did so well at everything – gold medal in sparring and board breaking, and a silver in forms. He’s come so far since he started!
My sister-in-law & her family came out for a really short visit before Thanksgiving. It was nice to see her without it being for a funeral (like the other 3 times this year. Seriously.)
What’s Cooking
I made the best cheeseburger I have ever had. Pan fried, and it had an amazing crust on it but was still so incredibly juicy. I could eat cheeseburgers more often if they tasted like that all the time. (Note: I did not make the kale the recipe calls for. I hate kale, and have given up on trying it again after at least a dozen times in that many different ways. Blech.)
I also made lentil bolognese which I LOVED (and so did the baby). Sadly my husband and older kids were not as impressed with it. I may still make it for myself & M sometime I liked it that much. I do adore lentils though. And my husband did eat it – he just is unlikely to request it again unless I add some meat to it. 
Pies! Lots and lots of pies for Thanksgiving. The kids wanted a pie tasting, so we had a pie tasting. Pumpkin, cherry, French apple, pineapple, blueberry, peanut butter, and chocolate chip. Based on what got eaten the fastest, the apple was the favorite, and the blueberry the least favorite.
On a food-related note, I signed up for Plan to Eat when they had their annual Black Friday sale. I’m still figuring it out, but if you’re on there and want to be friends or share recipes with me, let me know! Here’s my profile link.
What I’m Anticipating in December
Christmas & I think we’re mostly set with gifts. I do need to get stocking stuffers for the kids – I want to get them new socks and undies and some sort of candy/treat.
G finishing up his grade 1 math curriculum and moving into grade 2. He’s really doing well with it, and I’m going with it unless and until he hits some snags and needs to slow down.
G is also *this close* to finishing up his reading program. And H says she wants to learn to read, so once G finishes I’m going to start her on it in level 1. I’ll let her set the pace, as I hadn’t intended to have her begin this early, but she’s insistent that she wants to do it.
Books I Read
Asterisks mark ones I especially enjoyed.
*No Children, No Pets by Marion Holland
Get Yourself Organized for Christmas: Simple Steps to Enjoying the Season
Penny Dreadful is a Magnet for Disaster by Joanna Nadin
Hey Jack – The Best Party Ever Sally Rippin
A Curious Beginning: A Veronica Speedwell Mystery by Deanna Raybourn
* Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger
* Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
* Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger
(those last three were rereads in preparation for reading Manners & Mutiny, the final book in the series)
Previously on The Deliberate Reader
One year ago: Recent Readaoud: The Boxcar Children
Two years ago: Mini Reviews: Recent Children’s Literature Reads
Three years ago: Favorite Cookbooks (Sweet)
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You\'re reading November 2015 Recap by Sheila Craig, originally posted on The Deliberate Reader on December 4, 2015. If you\'ve enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Sheila on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.