The Book Thief and Other Reading Adventures

I am remiss in not discussing this book right away.

It is quite simply on of those books that just take your breath away. I enjoy the macabre of the grim reaper narration, the German perspective of WWII and the heartbreak of the human condition.

This book is a treasure.

Do your self a favor and enjoy it.

I am also dabbling further into my food knowledge with the following books:

The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

I am learning so much about agriculture, where our food comes from and better ways to eat.

I won't bore you with the politics, but I will say this. It is astounding what little we know about what we eat.

I am curious and ready to learn more.

I am also profoundly fascinated by The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. 

This autobiographical book discusses a Chinese-American mother's journey of raising two daughters under strict Chinese culture parenting. At times shocking and funny. It definitely opens up a discussion about our permissive culture today.

This book generated a ton of press last week and got me thinking about my own upbringing and my parent's and friend's ever evolving parenting styles. I am not embarrassed to say that I come form a line of pseudo-Tiger Mothers. College is not an option!

And of course: I pre-ordered the Pioneer Woman's love story, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. Which she started on her blog and now is a book describing her hilarious and touching city girl transformation to a ranch wife.

Why? Because we love the Pioneer Woman. Amen.

What books are you reading?

Food

I have been on a bit of a food journey lately and one of my new years resolutions if to eat smarter.
I found this great blog called Fooducate that breaks down some of the modern food issues, especially our relationship to packaged foods.

I especially liked this article on baby's first food, rice cereal, and how most children don't get any whole grains in their diet, setting them up for unhealthy flavor profiles as they grow.
Fooducate also took on my mom's beloved Activia.

Plus, can you guess what this is?

It's chicken. 

Here are some great food sites I love:
Tastespotting: Gorgeous photos, amazing food (photo above)
Love & Olive Oil
Slashfood
Check them out!

Lee + Bolton ChristmasNewYearBonanza

First off, let's gaze at my tree.

I know right!
Thank you, thank you.
Here's what you need to know. 
All tree decorations are from Tai Pan Trading that Mom, Pone and David helped CJ and I pick out. Ribbon is from Target.




As for the rest of the house, 
CJ's mom Pam has a metric ton of Christmas decor.
I am not kidding. 
She invited me over early December to take stock of the situation.
We left with a small fraction of items including a tree, star and skirt. As well as a ton of side table items I will show you below. Bottom line. 


We are so lucky to have hoarders in our life.


Bask in the glittery goodness. You see those pokey fan things? All Ponie. Genius.
Also, Wendy hunted those flowers down for me. And when we went back post-Christmas, she HUNTED more of those flowers down for me. Much love Mom. Much love.

Mom also found these. Which pretty much made my life.

Okay on to the rest of the room.
Santa and flying reindeer. YES.

Nativity snow globe paired up with our globe collection and smelly pine cones. Yep, we got 'em!

My attempt at decor (aka sticks in a vase with balls, keeping it classy) with a vintage santa with a gold hat. Hello.

More balls in vases.

And my favorite item of decor! DAN BOLTON!

Dan is modeling our office wall and window decor, I call Tuscan teal vomit.(Sorry CJ).


After Christmas with the Bolton-Zerelka-Kucera families, we headed up to St. G for some post-Christmas revelry with the Joneses.


BUT I didn't take any photos. And you missed out on things like Mom, CJ and Pone playing Wii Fit and trying to virtually bat soccer balls with their heads. My apologies.


New Years's Eve was spent at Chris and Charlyn's with Charlyn's family. CJ proclaimed Charlyn's pulled pork as wondrous. But the best part was seeing the first photos of baby Lee on the fridge!


Then we headed down to the strip. Coldplay and Jay Z were playing at the Cosmopolitan, and they broadcasted the concert out to the strip, so CJ and I waited out the last minutes of 2010 dancing to Coldplay and kissed in 2011 to "Viva la Vida." Pretty perfect, I gotta say.


New Year's Day we dragged Chris down to the Bellagio Gardens and I finally took out my camera.

Notes: The Bellagio ripped off my Christmas Tree design and that penguin is CREEPY.


So there it is. I still need to post Thanksgiving, New York and our go kart adventure where I almost killed DAN BOLTON. So stay tuned!


I am Tiffany Lee and I am 28 today.