I’m waist deep into my Christmas break right now. It’s the Friday after Christmas and the Bauers have not left the couch. Yesterday we took a lovely two-mile walk around Spring Lake; but today……. Today is all about not getting out of our pajamas, ordering pizza, watching It’s a Wonderful Life, and celebrating down time with The Hubs since he worked Christmas this year.
I picked up When Less Becomes More by Emily Ley when I was doing my last bit of Christmas shopping earlier this week. I debated buying it since I was supposed to be buying presents for others and “When would I have time to read this anyway?”
I’m so glad I did. I’m almost done. Turns out this will be the last book I’m reading in 2019. It’s really helped me focus my thoughts on my goals for the New Year. Between this book and The Next Right Thing podcast I’ve been listening to lately (by Emily P. Freeman), I’m feeling ready for 2020. Excited even.
Reading the book helped me to look forward as I set some goals for 2020 while the podcast has been encouraging me to reflect back on the year.
Are you a New Year’s goal setter? If so, do you tend to look back and reflect or do focus more on moving ahead? I think both are important.
Maybe you don’t have specific goals; but you just want to set your intention or make sure your priorities are where you really want them to be. Either way, for me, looking back is essential before moving forward.
As I’m sitting here on my dangerously comfortable couch, I’ve unfollowed several people on my Instagram account. I’ve unsubscribed from way too many email subscriptions. Why, why do I fill up my inbox with so much junk?? My inbox isn’t empty but I’ve deleted hundreds of emails (so embarrassing). I’m getting a jump start on some goals for new year.
One of the things I realized when looking back on 2019 was that I needed to declutter. Not just the physical clutter in my house but the mental clutter. So as I cuddle up with my favorite people today, I’m eliminating some of that mental clutter. I will get that inbox to 0 emails!
While I look back on what didn’t work in 2019, I’m also reflecting on all the great moments and all the things that I’m proud of in 2019.
I don’t know when we are going to have a lazy day like this again so I’ll soak up today. I’ll sign off, order some pizza and cry at the ending of It’s A Wonderful Life like I do every year.
Is summer winding down already?? The schools supplies have taken over Target, fall sports are starting up again and yes, kids are going back to school. Our summer break ended just a couple of week ago and I’m still working on my summer reading list. Before my summer got all crazy, I wrote up this blog post. So can we just pretend that I posted this blog post when I wrote it, way back in June?
Mmmm, okay? Great.
I’ve got so many great books to share with you but first……… let me be honest. Or rather, let me be honest with myself. I’m not going to finish all these books this summer.
I would absolutely love to; but since it’s a struggle to get my one book read for book club each month, 10 books seems a bit of a stretch. Granted I’ve already started a few, one is super short, and I’ve finished one on the list already.
But let’s be real.
I have kids. Laundry. Feeding of said kids. A husband. Netflix shows to binge watch. Blog posts to write. Instagram feeds to keep up with, (check me out at theaccidentaldomestic on Instagram) Friends. Playdates. You get the idea.
But still….I dream.
Whether I finish these books this summer or this year (or next summer), here is the line up. Enjoy.
Have you read any of these? Share your thoughts. Are there any on the list you’d like to read?
Books I’ve Started And Set Aside And Would Now Like To Finish
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommendby Katarina Bivald
I started this book months ago, maybe even last summer. I had to set it aside to keep up with that month’s book club book and never got back to it. So, I’m picking it back up. This is a fiction read that seems pretty interesting so far.
Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Make for Strong, Confident and Capable Childrenby Angela J. Hanscom
I’ve enjoyed this non-fiction read every time I pick it up. I go highlighter crazy when I get into it.
Books I’ve Just Begun This Summer
You Carried Me by Melissa Ohden
This is the book club book we will be discussing in August. I actually just finished this one. It’s a memoir of woman who knows that she is adopted, but finds out that she miraculously survived an abortion. This was a quick read and I enjoyed it. Being Pro-Life, I really appreciated this woman telling her story so honestly and sharing how God redeemed relationships in her life and brought healing.
Daring Greatlyby Brene’ Brown
So far, I’m loving this book. Brene’ Brown is all about research and backing her findings with years of collected data. While very straightforward; it really dives deep into how shame can and does control our lives, our decisions and relationships. It’s been a very thought provoking read so far.
Looking for Lovelyby Annie F. Downs
I listen to Annie’s podcast, This Sounds Fun and really enjoy that. Reading her book is a lot like listening to her talk. I’m enjoying it so far; and am sure I’ll have more thoughts on this as I get closer to finishing it.
Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled Worldby Kristen Welch
This book.!!!! This book is a must read for every parent. Absolute Must. So far, this has been the best book I’ve read so far this summer.
Books I Haven’t Started Yet
Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson
This is a non-fiction/ parenting book. Seeing as the previous book is a parenting book as well, I may push this book to the fall.
Because He Loves Meby Elyse Fitzpatrick
She spoke at our Womens’ retreat this past spring and it was one of those moments where my thinking about and view of Christ really changed for the better. I saw my relationship with Him in a way I hadn’t before, so I really wanted to read the book that our retreat was based on.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
This is another book club pick for the summer, so I’ll start reading this closer to the end of summer. We will be discussing it in September.
Oils of the Bibleby Erin Rodgers
This book is super short and more of an educational one for me. I can read this in one sitting; but wanted to include it in the list. I’m going to Young Living’s Convention this week, so I’m going to take it on the plane and probably read it then.
Not Pictured But Would Still Like To Read
I have a lot of non-fiction on my list and really feel like I need another good fiction book in the mix. I can only read so many non-fiction books in a row before I need a break.
Also, I’d love to read a good biography.
If you have any suggestions for a fiction or biography, drop them in the comments.
Follow me at theaccidentaldomestic on IG or Facebook and to see how I’m doing on my stack of books and reviews of them as I finish.
Update: At the time of posting this these are the books I’ve read: You Carried Me, Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Looking for Lovely, Oils of the Bible, and the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (almost).
Every year God seems to give me a book that really speaks to me and changes the way I see Him. Changes the way I see myself. Changes the way God sees me.
He gave me this book, Humble Roots (by Hannah Anderson), earlier this year. I am so thankful.
As I read this book, I seriously felt like I was talking to a good friend, while sitting around my dining room table with coffee in hand.
I thought I was a humble person. I thought I knew what being humble meant. The perspective I received through reading this book really changed my thinking, in the best way.
It talks about what is at the root of our anxiety and unrest, why we endlessly seems to strive and are never at rest.
“Humble Roots reveals how cultivating humility- not scheduling or increased productivity-leads to true peace.” Hannah Anderson
I love this book so much! I want to share it with you. So I am giving a copy away to one lucky follower.
It’s so easy to enter for this giveaway. Ridiculously easy.
Just subscribe to The Accidental Domestic. Easy peasy. Type in your email address. I only send you an email notice when a new post is up on the blog.
You are entered. That’s it.
Already a subscriber? You are already entered. But would you like a better chance to win this book?
Click on the Instagram icon and check out my post about the giveaway on my Accidental Domestic Instagram page @theaccidentaldomestic . (I’ll be posting this Monday morning). I will give you more ways to earn more entries to win this book.
Giveaway ends on Tuesday night midnight Pacific Time. Winner announced Wednesday morning.
Good Luck.
*Update: Our Winner was announced on my Instagram page but you can still get this book here.
Isn’t winter the best time to cozy up with a good book? Our winter weather’s been a little cooky this season. February felt like spring burgeoning on summer. I was wearing flip flops and getting ready to break out my shorts. Thankfully things never went that far. (These legs are no where ready for shorts!)
The end of February and March got much colder and rainier and we’ve been spending more time curled up under blankets, reading on the couch, and listening to rain patter on the roof. So, even though spring is here, I feel like winter is just hanging on.
Three little habits everyday to transform your mornings? Yes please! This book was the perfect book to start off the New Year for me. It’s all about making small but consistent changes, forming small but powerful routines that will change your morning first, then change your whole day. Kat Lee’s writing feels like you are chatting on your couch with your girlfriend over coffee. It’s an easy read but there is so much goodness packed into this book. I highly, highly recommend reading this book.
First of all, I love Golding’s style of writing. I enjoyed the book as a really good piece of literature. My husband really liked it. But the book is about a group of young boys, left to govern themselves alone on an island. It didn’t end well and most of the boys turned into little savages. I guess it just wasn’t enjoyable for me to read. Reading about small children acting in such horrible ways (though not all of them turned “savage”) was just disturbing for me. It was a book club book and it lent to really good discussion. Just not my favorite book.
This was our last book club book and one we all enjoyed.
Humble Roots by Hanna Anderson (still reading this one)
Like the Hello Mornings book, this book is changing me. I’m reading a little bit most mornings during my quiet time. This is a short book and an easy read; but it is powerful and deep.
The girl is hooked! We’ve got a serious Harry Potter fan on our hands. She just devoured the first two books. I’m on book 4 myself, The Goblet of Fire. She can’t read beyond what I’ve read and feel comfortable with because I know the end of the series gets pretty dark.
I really enjoy the movies. Now that she’s finished book 2, we will watch the movie together. I may look up the recipe for Butter Beer and have that while we watch.
Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary (We are currently reading this one.)
So, number one, I love Beverly Cleary. Number two, my Little H is the boy version of Ramona. The first time I read this I did not have kids. Now, that I have a little “Ramona” and actually a Beezus (that would be my daughter, Lily) this book just means so much more to me. When I read it aloud to my two kiddos during school, it’s like I’m reading about what has happened in our house this week. I just love it. It also helps me to appreciate the workings of the mind of a sweet but strong willed little kindergarten boy.
This is one we are currently reading as well for our California History cirriculum this year.
Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinska
This might be my favorite book I’m sharing today. Not only do my kids love this book, I love this book. It doesn’t feature every country; but it features several countries, each country spread out over two oversized pages. There is so much fun details and interesting facts about each country. The illustrations are excellent. I can’t recommend this book enough.
