I've been cranking out the reading lately. In theory, life in summer slows down. And yes, the days can go by slowly, but overall we're moving from one thing to the next at a pretty steady pace. My theory is if we keep moving, there's less time to bicker. But even with an uptick in our schedules, I refuse to be too busy to read which is my all time favorite past time. I read standing up eating breakfast. I cook dinner with a book in my hand. I sneak a few minutes while the kids are outside … [Read more...] about on my nightstand
books and reading
on my nightstand
From World War I love stories to memoirs of minimalists to the prairie obsesesed, here's what I've been reading in June. Somewhere in France: A Novel of the Great War, Jennifer Robson: Class, war, love - think Downton Abbey Season Two The Book. This was a somewhat predictable love story about an upper class woman joining the war effort which was exactly what I was looking to read on a recent weekend getaway. Lost Lake, Sarah Addison Allen: A young widow returns to a childhood vacation spot … [Read more...] about on my nightstand
i am a writer
I was in a webinar earlier this week about building your audience. And the first step to becoming a writer is to own your identity as a writer (Thanks Jeff Goins!). For over the past year, I have been writing nearly every day. I've written over 136 blog posts, thousands and thousands of words strung together in various degrees of success, and as of last Thursday, I can officially say I've completed a draft of a book that will be published this fall. But I don't call myself a writer. I haven't … [Read more...] about i am a writer
the minimalists
On Tuesday night, I went to a book reading of Everything That Remains a memoir by The Minimalists - Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. These best friends shared their experience of converting from a life filled with empty consumption to a life of value. Not like the value meal as in big portions or double coupons but to a simple deliberate life where every choice you make you're asking yourself, does this bring me value? Or joy? This idea, this philosophy, is something that has really … [Read more...] about the minimalists
on my nightstand
It's time for my installment of what's been on my nightstand. Here are a few things that I've been reading (and not reading but meaning to read) this month. Stitches A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair, Anne Lamott: There's just something about Anne Lamott that I can not get enough of right now. This short, powerful book hit me hard this week. Maybe because we had our own stitches experience when my youngest split his eyebrow open? I had to stop myself from going on Amazon and shipping to … [Read more...] about on my nightstand
new ventures
I've been hinting around for the past few weeks, maybe months, that there is a new project brewing around here. The first I already spilled the beans on - I am writing a non-fiction book about relocating with kids. The second goes hand-in-hand, and it's all about getting that book (and some others) out into the world. Like any new venture, there's been a ton of research (probably too much), a fair amount of doubt (trying to keep that in check is a part-time job on its own), and a lot of staring … [Read more...] about new ventures
on my nightstand
First a little blog housekeeping... As I was reading through my posts from the last year, I realized that there were some basic themes popping up and my categories weren't really doing them justice. So I created a new list of categories and reorganized everything. If you're fairly new to the blog and want to check out a particular section, just head over to the categories list on the right hand side or if you're reading on a mobile device, you can find the list if you scroll all the way down to … [Read more...] about on my nightstand
on my nightstand
Reading is my favorite pastime and my nightstand is always stacked high with books that I'm making my way through. I thought I'd share what's camped out there these days. And because I've always wondered who has the job of writing the descriptions of movies and television shows that pop up through your cable, I challenged myself to write a synopsis/review in less than 140 characters, Twitter style, and this is what I came up with. Gutbliss, Dr. Robynne Chutkan M.D. - Ignore goofy title. … [Read more...] about on my nightstand