Just Got a Kindle? | What to do Next! | Kindle Paperwhite Basics

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019 ~ Genevieve ~ Leave a comment

Kindle Paperwhite

So You Got a Kindle…

Congratulations and welcome to the club!! As a lifelong book lover, it took me a while to move over to reading ebooks, but now I am hooked! I remember when e-readers and ebooks first came on the scene in a larger way and there was this idea that hard copy books would become obsolete.

Now that they have been a part of mainstream reading for some time now, I think everyone was able to see that they are just another option for reading and it doesn’t have to be one or the other! I will never stop buying books but ebooks have been a wonderful addition to my reading life.

What do I do now?!

Just like with any kind of technology, there is a little bit of a learning curve with reading on a Kindle but once you get the hang of it, it super easy! There are so many online resources that can teach you how to use almost anything now and the Kindle walks you through the set up similar to when you get a new iPhone.

Once you do the initial setup, you can adjust the font style and size, the brightness of the screen, etc. All of these things are easily changed depending on your reading environment and make it so you can see the screen whether you are in bright sunlight ore reading in a dark room. Reading on a Kindle is a lot different than reading on a screen like an iPad or phone, the biggest thing is that there isn’t glare.

Changing the size of the font is as easy as tapping the screen. I like reading with a larger font but it is totally a personal preference. You tap the screen to change the page and some people prefer to not have to turn the page quite as frequently.

An Amazon Account…

The biggest thing you need is an Amazon account (you don’t need a prime account but it can be useful). You need this account whether you are purchasing books through Amazon or borrowing them through your library with the Libby app…which I will talk more about in a bit. Once you log in you are able to get reading!

Kindle…ready to travel!

Kindles come with a USB charging cord that you can either plug into your computer or use with a charging block in a regular outlet. Once they are fully charged the battery lasts forever, like weeks! This is great for traveling and being on the go. Kindles have a screensaver that helps save battery life and come on after not be used for a bit.

Do I Need a Cover?

Fintie Slimshell Case for the All-New Kindle Paperwhite

MoKo Case for Previous Kindle Paperwhite Generations (prior to 2018)

This is also a personal preference but I always feel like anything is easier to hold and protect when it has a cover. Even though the newest Paperwhites are waterproof, they just feel more protected with a cover. I also love that they automatically wake up or put your Kindle to sleep when you open and shut them. I also feel that makes them feel more “book-like”.

I have had great luck with both the Fintie and Moko cases. There are a lot of cover color and texture options so there really is something for everyone! I would say that I have had the best luck with the covers that aren’t a fabric material because they are easy to wipe down and stay clean. And make sure to choose the option that works for the model that you have…just like with phones, the dimensions change just the slightest and the covers won’t fit properly.

How do I Get Ebooks Through The Library?!

Meet Libby! Although not every library participates, Libby is an amazing way to borrow ebooks and audiobooks for FREE! If you have used OverDrive in the past, Libby is the updated version of this and is much more user-friendly. All you need is your library card login information and password and you are good to go!

What does Libby do?

Libby is an app that allows you to listen to or read thousands of ebooks and audiobooks and also allows you to send them to your Kindle reading device, right from your phone!

Meet Libby PDF Guide

Back in May I worked with the wonderful technology librarian Susanna and taught a Libby Introduction class at our local library! Susanna worked hard to prepare a Libby guide that we gave out at our class and also is available in a PDF format HERE.

Amazon First Reads & Kindle Book Deals

In addition to reading through Libby, there are also many other ways to read on a Kindle without spending a lot. A few months ago I shared about Amazon First Reads and reading on a budget HERE.

I also love searching for Kindle book deals. Every day different ebooks are on sale and you can find them easily by searching “Kindle book deals” in the Amazon search bar.

I try to share Kindle Deals of books I have read and loved in my stories on Instagram so make sure to be following along!

Do You Have Other Kindle Questions?

I would love to help answer them…please leave a comment below and I will do my best to help find you the answer!

The Best Books of 2019 (so far!) | My Personal Favorites | Book Recommendations

July 16, 2019July 16, 2019 ~ Genevieve ~ Leave a comment

The Best Books of 2019 (so far!)

Halfway through 2019!

Can you believe we are already in the second half of 2019? So far this has been a year of setting some big goals for myself and working on a lot of personal growth. It has also been a great year of reading and there are still so many highly anticipated books to come!

What Makes a Book Memorable to You?

I read for all different kinds of reasons, sometimes to escape, sometimes to connect and some are just for pure pleasure. As someone who reads quite a few books each month, there are lots of books I love but there is a smaller list of ones that really stick with me for the long haul.

When I have finished a book and am still thinking about it long after I have moved on to my next read, I know that is a sign of an amazing book. All of the books on this made me feel something and stuck with me long after finishing them.

Non-Fiction vs. Fiction

When I put together these lists I look back at my reviews and also my ratings on Goodreads. I often find that my favorites are usually a pretty good balance of both fiction and non-fiction…as you can see with my 2018 Memorable Book List:

Kindle, Audio or Hard Copy?

When it comes to reading formats, I like a little of everything. I love reading ebooks, hard copy books and listening to audiobooks and I really think there are a time and a place for all of them! I love to listen to non-fiction on audio, I get hard copy books from the library and from Book of the Month and I tend to read most everything else on my Kindle.

And if I love any of them, I will buy a hard copy after I finish them to keep in my own personal library and also loan to friends. Today is the perfect day to order one of your favorites too, the $5 off a book purchase of $15 or more expires tonight!

So without further adieu, here is my list and the links to my personal reviews…

The Best Books of 2019 (so far!)

A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

You can read my review of A Woman is No Man HERE.

To Have and To Hold by Molly Millwood Ph. D.

You can read my review of To Have and To Hold HERE.

All The Rage by Darcy Lockman

*review coming soon

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

You can read my review of Daisy Jones & The Six HERE.

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

You can read my review of Three Women by Lisa Taddeo HERE.

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

You can read my review of Daisy Jones & The Six HERE.

Beyond The Point by Claire Gibson

You can read my review of Beyond The Point HERE.

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

You can read my review of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone HERE.

What are your favorite books of 2019 so far? I would love to hear!

A Family Wedding Weekend in Vermont | Jay Peak Resort

July 16, 2019July 16, 2019 ~ Genevieve ~ Leave a comment

A Family Wedding at Jay Peak Resort

The Rehearsal

This past weekend we celebrated the wedding of my brother in law Derek and new sister in law Antonia! There is nothing like a family wedding and we had so much fun celebrating and spending time all together. We lucked out with amazing weather! After an iffy forecast, it ended up being the perfect wedding day. The mountains made the most stunning backdrop at Jay Peak Resort.

On Friday afternoon we had the rehearsal followed by an amazing evening at The Belfry which is just down the road in Montgomery. My husband’s family has had a camp in this area for 20 years so this restaurant is a place filled with so many memories for everyone. The food was amazing and the company was even better.

The Wedding Morning

It doesn’t matter how late I go to bed, I still can’t sleep in! Fortunately, we were staying in the perfect place for a cup of coffee with a view. We are finally at the stage where if the kids stay up later they will sleep in for a bit and this made for a quiet morning of coffee by the fire. It was a brisk 57 degrees and it felt amazing…there is just nothing like a cool summer morning.

Wedding Day Prep

It was the first time all four of our family members were part of a wedding party at the same time. Lucas was the Best Man, I was the Matron of Honor and the kids were the ring bearers. It made for some interesting logistics but we were lucky that because it was a family wedding, there were a lot of family members around that were happy to help.

I spent the day with the bridal party getting ready and Lucas took the boys to the water park. The Pump House is the most perfect place for the age of our kids. They loved the water slides and river so much.

The Wedding Ceremony

The Ceremony took place by the pond and it was just gorgeous. The shuttles brought everyone around the resort for all the wedding festivities which made it super easy. The views and the breeze were amazing and our friend Mike officiated the wedding which made it is so special.

After the ceremony, we took some family photos and then headed down to the cocktail area. Derek and Antonia did a first look so we had already completed the bridal party photos too which was nice.

The Reception

I really don’t have a lot of photos from the reception but it was so fun. I was a little nervous because both Lucas and I were both sharing a speech but once that was over it was a blast! 😉 I know people have strong opinions about this but I love having a DJ over a live band and if you know my tastes in music this probably surprises NO ONE. The music was great and everyone danced all evening.

While there weren’t many other kids at the wedding there were plenty of people that were young at heart! 😉 Between the dance floor, making human-sized straws, the maple syrup favors and a rowdy game of some sort of golf putting, they were thoroughly entertained all evening.

The Morning After & The Water Park

I had another leisurely morning of coffee and reading and then we joined the bride and groom for breakfast. If you haven’t had the Foundry Mimosa you are missing out, it is amazing!!

Once the boys were awake we headed to the water park as a family. We all had so much fun and Lucas and I even did the La Chute waterslide…I may have screamed the entire way down, ha.

All in all, it was a wonderful and meaningful weekend and we were so happy to be a part of it. I hope you enjoyed this peek at our family wedding weekend and I will be back later with a book review and the list of my favorite books of 2019 (so far!)