Wanderlust Abounds in What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding

This book should come with a disclaimer: Have passport handy while reading. Really, this book will give you a major case of wanderlust (or at least it did me!). I read Kristin Newman's memoir What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding and longed to visit all the places she had. I wanted the foreign romances in Argentina, the walkabout in New Zealand, the typical partying you'd expect of Amsterdam and of course Paris on New Year's (tres chic!).

Another disclaimer: this book not only recounts Newman's 30-ish single-girl worldly travels but also her 30-ish single-girl worldly romantic conquests so just a head's up. The details are ALL THERE. Newman perfectly describes these encounters as "sweet, sexy, epic little vacationships" as opposed to relationships, which she avoids like some third-world plague.

So while Newman's friends were married and having babies, she was living the dream (as she saw fit). Which speaks loud and clear about following one's path and not being fearful of new experiences (even if it means going it alone). I found her tale refreshing and empowering for young women. Her message of it's okay to buck the trend and not get married before you are ready! and go have adventures because that is what living is supposed to be about! No regrets! And her whole "do the thing you are supposed to do in the place where you are" is a pretty good rule for travelers of all kinds. Engage with the locals, see the must-see sights, but the real gems are often the hidden ones that you have to go off the beaten path to experience. Immerse yourself in the culture. Become semi-fluent in the language. And maybe, if it feels right, get a little cozy with that Argentinian!

It should be noted that Kristen-adjacent (the traveling version of herself) is a Hollywood sit-com writer who has both the means financially and flexibility job-wise to travel during the off season. This sad, sad realization kept smacking reality into me when I daydreamed a little too hard about leaving my family and job for a little bit of world travel. Big buzz kill moment.

Newman's voice as a comedy writer comes across loud and clear and I couldn't help but imagine the two of us sharing a few bottles of wine as she personally recounted to me these tales of romance and adventure abroad. Very fun, irreverent and girl-friend to girl-friend kind of tone.

To sum up, this book is the EXACT POLAR OPPOSITE of Eat Pray Love, which ironically enough Newman has the insight to see herself and note that while she wasn't a fan of it, she could see all the things that were annoying about that book in her own memoir, noting that she (Newman) had a "tendency to be self-involved and inflict misery on (herself) in the middle of (her) pretty amazing life".

Toss this book into your carry-on on your next sojourn or just bring it with you to the beach and get lost in living vicariously through Newman's experiences.

Blogger note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. This review is entirely based on my opinion and contains my honest evaluation.

photo courtesy of Random House

Go from Clueless in the Kitchen to a Cooking Diva with KitchenConfidence

True Confession time: I hate cooking. Scratch that, I don't like cooking. Wait, that isn't quite right either. I think what I'm trying to say is that I can't cook. It's a little embarrassing to admit that, especially with everyone constantly Instagramming pics of their super-yummy looking (and I'm sure tasty) meals.

Enter Kelsey Nixon's book, Kitchen Confidence. Really, there is no false advertisement here at all. This book makes cooking easy. The recipes are delicious, well-presented and the instructions are simplified, even for an un-domestic goddess like me!

Hands down the best recipes in this book are the Berries & Cream Stuffed French Toast, Grilled Veggie Panzanella, Stovetop Mac & Cheese, Grilled Fruit Skewers and Skillet Blueberry and Peach Cobbler (I'm a vegetarian so I skipped over the meat meals!). But honestly, everything is so well-presented and easy to follow that you can't mess any of them up.

Most of the recipes come with variations so you can change them up from time to time. I also really like how Nixon provides recipes for some staples like your basic rolls and quinoa pilaf. She also provides lots of useful how-to's as a great introduction to techniques such as braising, pickling, blanching and stir-frying just to name a few.

This book is perfect for a young person trying to navigate their way in the kitchen for the first time or anyone like me who is clueless when it comes to cooking. These meals are impressive and delicious.

Blogger note: I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. This review is entirely based on my opinion and contains my honest evaluation.

photo courtesy of: Clarkson Potter Publishers