There are some amazing sales out there this weekend, including the “Get 3 for the Price of 2!” book deal over on Amazon! It is a great way to stock up on your winter TBR list, buy a gift for a friend or family member OR buy books that you loved this past year and want to add to your own collection!
With hundreds of hard copy book suggestions to choose from, it can feel a little overwhelming! I am going to share some of my own recommendations as well as some highly rated and reviewed books below.
Highly Recommended Cookbooks!
If you are feeling like cooking or just browsing through and getting inspired, these highly-rated cookbooks are part of this great sale!
All of these books were 5-star reads by some of my trusted reading sources and a few are on my TBR list as well! I am especially looking forward to Finding Chika and Atomic Habits which have raving reviews online as well!
Daring Greatly by Brene Brown is one of my favorite books ever I can’t recommend it enough! If you have heard about Brene but don’t really know what she is all about, it is a great one to start with!
Illustrated Harry Potter Books by J.K. Rowling & Jim KayAll four of the currently available illustrated Harry Potter books are part of this sale! Our older son has been reading the first one and I used this deal to grab books 2-4 for him for Christmas and he is going to be so excited. I still haven’t read them, but his enthusiasm for them has been intriguing!
Both of our boys love the Dog Man series and Wonder is our older son’s very favorite book. Mo Willems and The First Little Readers were great early reader books for both our kids and helped us get in the routine of them reading every night!
You can’t go wrong with any of these choices! Strega Nona was one of my childhood favorites and our kids love reading it too. All of these are tried and true favorites in our house!
How Do I Find Out What Other Books Qualify for This Deal?
To see if other books qualify for these savings, you can type in a book title in the search bar and then look to the right of the book where you will see a small green rectangle box with the words “savings” as pictured below…
Are These Deals For eBooks Too?
While this deal is only for hard copy books, there is a deal on eBooks where you will receive a $5 credit towards future eBook purchases when you spend $20.
I hope this post helps you find some books you love, either for yourself or to gift someone else this holiday season!
Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
It’s that time of the year when holiday gift guides are going around the internet like wildfire. While I have found some that are super helpful, it can also get very overwhelming and can sometimes feel a bit..insincere.
As a blog reader myself, I often struggle with wanting to support bloggers, who do put in a lot of time and energy behind the scenes to share content online, AND the idea of super overconsumption and also authenticity.
Tried & True
I wanted to put together a gift guide of tried and true things that I have purchased and loved myself. There is nowhere I would rather be than cozy at home, reading a book!
So if you are shopping for a book lover, or are one yourself, I am hoping these suggestions come in handy! They are not holiday-themed, as they are things that I have used and loved all year round and have also stood the test of time which I think is super important.
A Disclaimer
To be upfront, some of these links are Amazon affiliate links (you can read more about this on my FAQs page HERE) and some are not…but they are ALL things I have purchased myself and am sharing because I think they are awesome!
Since I began using affiliate links this past spring as a way to help support the costs of running this blog, I have included a disclaimer at the end of my book posts when I share links to purchase the book yourself. In this instance, I wanted to be very clear about it and am happy to answer any questions you have in the comments below or by email genthebookworm@gmail.com
Now Onto The Bookworm Gift Ideas which basically is a list of some of my very favorite things!
This Lipmask is my favorite! While I still am a big fan of the Laniege lip sleeping mask, I purchased this off of a recommendation from a skincare loving friend and I love so much too! Both of these stay on forever and are super hydrating, but I love the very mild scent and flavor of the balm and it is perfect for applying before bed or when reading in the bathtub!
Hair Ties that Hold!
2. These hair ties have been my go-to for years! I have to have my hair up when I am buried in a book and they are great for thick hair, stay put and come in so many different color combinations! Sometimes I even double them up for heavy-duty things like a workout class.
I am also not bummed that scrunchies are back! As part of their Skida Scraps Project to help create even less waste, they are now making scrunchies! They can hold up to whatever you choose to do, whether that is lazing around your house or going outside for an adventure. I love this Adele print so much!
A Powerhorse Portable Charger
3. This portablecharger is a powerhouse! Between listening to audiobooks and podcasts on my phone ALL the time, and being an overzealous iPhone photographer, I go through my phone charge pretty quickly. After reads dozens of reviews, I settled on this guy and it is everything I hoped it would be!
I have had a portable charger before but it only recharged my stuff a few times before it needed to be plugged in again and as someone is a little disorganized, it defeated the purpose because I was always forgetting to actually charge the thing.
This charger can connect to up to four USB compatible devices at a time which makes it perfect for charging your phone, someone else’s phone, your kindle and wireless headphones all at the same time! I used it all week long on our recent vacation there were not a lot of outlets nearby in our hotel room and it was amazing!
BeyondBooked BookSleeves!
4.Beyond Booked Booksleeves! I didn’t get introduced to book sleeves until this past summer and now I am wondering why I waited so long!! Tancy is one of my Bookstagram buddies and when she shared that she had opened an Etsy shop I couldn’t want to check it out. I have to admit, I was totally sold when I saw she had lots of floral prints because that is my jam! But if florals aren’t your thing, she has lots of other fabric choices to choose from, like these geometric ones HERE.
Not only are booksleeves fabulous for keeping your books safe when you toss them in and out of your bags, but they also are awesome for protecting other things like your Kindle and phone. I brought them on our last two vacations and they were the perfect way to transport things around and also hideaway items I didn’t want laying out when we were at the pool. And as a #Bookstagrammer, they make super cute backdrops for your books as well. 😉
Tancy’s booksleeves are beautifully made and she is just so wonderful to work with. She now offers multiple sizes as well for your even larger hardcopy books.
*I just looked and today for Black Friday she is having 20% off storewide! (not an affiliate link!)
A Pillow Stand for Handsfree Ebook Reading!
5. Have you ever heard of a pillow stand? We have three kindle readers in our house and we all have different methods of propping them up. Lucas uses the rails of the headboard on our bed, our older son usees a stuffed animal and I use a pillow stand!
It allows you to have your Kindle (or other small tablet devices) propped up so you don’t have you hold it up. I like to fall asleep reading so this is my ideal way of reading!
The Most Comfortable Jogger Pajamas Bottoms EVER!
6. There is nothing better than changing into your comfy clothes and having no plans but curling up with your current read. I found these modal joggers (not an affiliate link) two years ago and they are lifechanging!
They are the softest fabric ever(but don’t make you overheated), they don’t ride up on your calves because of the jogger style cuff, and they come in so many patterns choices(that also change seasonally if that is your thing, it is mine!)
You can get deals on them year-round because Gap always has sales but if you are shopping Black Friday deals, you can get them for 50% off right now with code (BLKFRIDAY) and they are SO worth it! These are true to size and I wear a size large for reference.
A Tank to Lounge & Layer
7. I don’t buy a lot of things at Gap for myself but their breathe tank tops are my go-to to for sleeping in EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! They also are the best layer tanks under sweaters and sweatshirts. I don’t have any affiliation with Gap, I just love their loungewear so much. I have worn these for years, and I hope they never stop making them! I also buy a large in this tank.
A Tumbler That Tops My List!
8. I love a good tumbler for water and I also love straws! This Sip by S’well tumbler is THE BEST! It holds a lot of water so you don’t have to refill it all the time, keeps you drink cold (or hot!) and the straw bends and doesn’t clink around all the time like most stainless steel straws out there. I keep one of these on my nightstand every single for easy access while reading. You can find them on Amazon HERE or also at your local Target(pictured above on the right).
My Favorite Wireless Headphones EVER
9. I get very excited to share about things that I love, but I am totally serious when I say that these headphonesare one of the best things I have EVER purchased. They changed my audiobook and podcast listening life for the better, but they have also become a household staple for when I just need to tone down the noise level at my house (see the photo above!)
In addition, they make wonderful and cozy winter earmuffs to walk to the school bus while also listening to your current audiobook! And the best part of these, if that you can be listening to something and then when your phone rings, you can answer it through these and it is not super complicated to do! And they stay connected as you walk all around the house and your phone is not nearby.
I clean, unload the dishwasher and fold laundry and even walk buzz, all hands-free, while talking to my friends and if that doesn’t sound amazing, well you haven’t tried it! And they are under 30 dollars! You can read more about them HERE.
A Comfortable and Cozy Sweatshirt!
10. Alright, the next staple of my perfect cozy outfit are these sweatshirts! I love a good sweatshirt and this one meets all my specifications. It is substantial without feeling too heavy to wear inside and it’s fitted a bit up top but the hi-low cut makes it butt-covering without pulling. The fabric feels so nice (and washes and dries amazingly well) and they remind me of the Alo Yoga top in a very similar style minus the heavier price tag!
I am not a big Amazon shopper for fashion choices but I tried these on a whim and then saw my friend Jenny AKA @dreamalittledreamvt wearing it in the charcoal stripes at Pure Barre and she knows what’s up in that department! These sweatshirts are perfect whether you are lounging around your house or running errands around town.
Hand Cream from the Heavens!
11. I am beginning to think from making this list that I am a high maintenance reader…but I just like being comfortable! Having dry skin is the worst and this time the year it is hard to avoid!
Another thing I keep on my nightstand(and by my computer, and on the kitchen counter…) during the colder months is hand cream. And if you haven’t tried this little gem yet you are missing out!
I first found Gramp Lyford’s Country Salve at our local grocery store. It is amazingly moisturizing without being greasy AT ALL, and it is doesn’t have a strong scent, which I really appreciate. Just go read the raving reviews and you will see what I mean!
The Best Bubble Bath Recommendations
12. Reading in the bath feels like the ultimate luxury these days. Now that the boys are bit older, they stay up A LOT later, so gone are the days where they were in bed and we had some time alone! (This is also why my early morning coffee time is so sacred to me!)
Because of this, Lucas and I are both are needing to find some new ways to have some downtime amidst the hustle and bustle of family life, which sometimes feels like it never ends these days…
One of my very favorite things is handing over the parenting reigns, closing the bathroom door and sinking into a nice, hot bubble bath. The boys also like taking baths and so I like finding bath products that work for our entire family. All three of these recommendations create the perfect amount of bubbles and smell amazing without being too strong…they also are moisturizing without feeling greasy!
Puracy bubble bath is the mildest in the fragrance department and creates a ton of bubbles from just a very small amount! The Honest Bubble bath has a great price point (there is often a “save $X amount at checkout deal)and The Alaffia coconut strawberry bubble bath makes you feel like you away at a tropical destination. We love and purchase all three of these regularly and you really can’t go wrong!
Cozy Candlelight Suggestions
13. Candles are one of my favorite ways to feel cozy this time of year. With the lack of daylight, the evenings can feel pretty long right now. I love using candles and table lamps to create warm light that also feels a lot less harsh than our overhead ceiling lights.
I have many favorites but there are some that really top my list! The Bee’s Nectar is a local business(that also has an Etsy shop) and she makes the best soy candles scented with essential oils and she is just so lovely in general. Gillian is often at local craft fairs(that’s where I first found her!) but you can almost always find her candles at the Blue Cottage if you live locally. The grapefruit scent is my very favorite!
This past week Julia talked about these Volcano Candles over on her Nightstand Series guest post HERE. While we don’t have an Anthropologie around here, I learned about these at our local Pure Barre studio!
I often find the scents of a lot of candles too overwhelming but there is something different about this one! The scent is clean and fresh and I love being able to repurpose the smaller container for knick-knacks around our house.
My friend gifted me this candle last year for my birthday and not only it is perfect for bookworm but is also has the most beautiful scent. I have been burning it for only special reading occasions because I just love it so much! They have so many more book-related candles on their Frostbeard Studio Store on Etsy.
Darn Tough Socks!
14. I talked about Darn Tough socks the other day in my Currently Loving post, but they really are the best! Not only do they have a lifetime guarantee are made in Vermont and make for super warm, cozy, and happy feet!
The Best Kindle Paperwhite Price EVER!
15. I couldn’t have a Bookworm Favorite Things post without talking about my beloved Kindle Paperwhite. This year I upgraded to the newest Paperwhite and it continues to be everything I loved about my previous one. It has a long battery life, a glare-free reading screen, and even better, it is now waterproof!
The lowest I have ever seen the newest Kindle Paperwhite was $89 and right now, you can grab one for under $85 HERE!!
With just our library cards and the Libby App, everyone in our family has access to thousands of ebooks, for FREE! And with the addition of great kindle deals that are available every week, we always have something to read, day or night! You can read my blog post related to how to get started with your Kindle HERE.
Kindle Covers That Protect!
16. Finally, if you have a Kindle, you probably will want a case for it! Not only does it help protect your ebook, but it also makes it automatically turn on when you open it. I have had great luck with the Fintie Slimshell case (I love the Z-Jungle Night pattern).
There are many great options available and when you are browsing around, just make sure to get the case that fits your generation of Kindle. The newest Kindle Paperwhite (2018 & 2019 editions) are considered the 10thg generation. Just like iPhones for example, each release is a little bit different in its dimensions so a cover that is for the previous models will not fit the newest Kindle Paperwhite.
Whew!! If you lasted until this point, I am impressed, this was a long one! I hope you found at least some part of this post helpful and if you have any other suggestions, I would love to hear them in the comments below. <3
Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
Welcome to another edition of The Nightstand Series!Kristina got us kicked off again last week and today I have another book-loving friend sharing her reading list and book recommendations!
Today I am excited to introduce you to my friend Julia!
Julia and I met on #bookstagram and right away we connected over our love of the same books! When she started her own book feed, I was super excited to follow along! She has great taste in books and always has such thoughtful comments with her reading recaps.
I love that we have very similar reactions to books and also that she reads “ahead”. She is a book reviewer too so she is often reading ARCs too and is able to discuss them with me before the actual publication dates! I love that reading is an escape for her too and I am super impressed that she prioritizes it while also being IN school.
I hope you enjoy getting to know a little about Julia today!
Nightstand Series Introduction:
Hi, I’m Julia! I’m from Michigan but am currently living in Lincoln, Nebraska with my boyfriend of 3 years. I’m a Ph.D. student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and I conduct aging/Alzheimer’s research. Back home in Michigan, I have 2 dogs and 1 cat who I miss very much!
Hopefully next year or the year after, my boyfriend and I will move into a house that allows pets and get a cat. When I’m not reading or doing research, I really love to bake! I show some of my baked goods (and of course, lots of books) on my #bookstagram at @booksbitesbeaches.
What Kind of Reader Are You?
I grew up in a family of readers. My brother loves fantasy and science fiction, my mom loves general adult fiction and self-help books, and my dad was always reading the newspaper so it only felt natural to me to start reading at a young age.
The first books I can remember loving were in middle school when I read the A-List series and Gossip Girl. From there, I moved onto Sarah Dessen and my love for reading only grew throughout grade-school.
I fell off the reading train a bit with undergrad because other things seemed to take priority. That all changed about a year ago, actually! I was in the process of applying to graduate school and had been dealt with my first school rejection and I turned to a book to escape.
I read The Next Person You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom in one sitting and for 2019, it was my New Years Resolution to read more! I started with a small goal – 25 books. I quickly met that and upped my goal to 50. Right now, I’m starting my 64th book and plan to set my goal for 75 next year.
What Time of Day do You do Most of Your Reading?
I do most of my reading in the early morning before I have to get out of bed with a coffee mug on my nightstand and then again at night when I’m winding down. I really love my quiet mornings and it’s a nice way to wind down in the evening.
What Books Are You Currently Reading?
I just recently read Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reidand really loved it! Genevieve and I both talked about how we didn’t love the ending, but I still think it’ll be a very talked-about book of 2020! Same with A Good Neighborhood by Therese Anne Fowler. They’re both quite timely and I think they’d both be really great book club picks.
I’m also excited for Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen’s newest, You Are Not Alone because they’re a favorite writing pair. (*For reference, their 2018 book is The Wife Between Us and their 2019 book is An Anonymous Girl)
Are There Any Books You Read and Didn’t Love?
I was recently disappointed by Not the Girl You Marry by Andie Christopher. It was essentially How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days but role reversal and in a book. It was lacking creativity and I need creativity in books! I don’t like to guess the ending 15 pages in, but sometimes a predictable romance is just what you need… it just wasn’t what I needed at the time.
What Are You Listening to?
I have never listened to an audiobook! It wasn’t until a few months ago that I finally started listening to podcasts because there’s just something about listening to other people’s voices through my headphones that can bother me.
The only podcast I consistently listen to is My Favorite Murder! I should probably read some true-crime stories given how much I love that podcast.
What Else is on Your Nightstand?
On my nightstand, I have all my essentials! I always have my Yeti water bottle with me. It keeps my water so nice and cold and I love it so much that I even have a Yeti coffee mug. I don’t usually care much about being brand loyal but they’re great products and I’ve dropped the water bottle multiple times and it’s still in great condition.
Even though I have multiple lip balms pictured, vaseline is still my go-to. It always cures my dry lips and knuckles in the winter and it’s so cost-effective! For on the go, I like Grove Collaborative’s Mint & Argan Lip Balm and then for going out, I like using Burt’s Bees colored balms.
My favorite skincare brand is Mario Badescu and this lotion is one of my favorites. I have one on my nightstand AND at my desk at work – that’s how good it is. It smells lovely and isn’t too expensive, which is important to me. I really like his products because most of them are vegan and cruelty-free and as far as skin-care goes, they’re pretty cheap!
I also have this journal, An Inspired Life, which includes prompts to reflect. It helps me reframe when I get stressed out and writing is one of my favorite forms of self-care, therefore, having this notebook close by helps me unwind in bed at night!
Lastly, an Anthropologie candle!! I try to get one of these for Christmas each year, and then treat myself once or twice throughout the year with one of these because they are the best candles out there. The volcano scents are my favorite and Nordstrom usually has them on sale.
Thank you so much for sharing today, Julia!!
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
Good morning!! I am trying to become more efficient (and not overthink these posts) because you guys were so great when I asked for more feedback over on Instagram. I too love reading random daily life updates and so I am going to try and commit to sharing these once a week! I am very externally motivated so when I know someone is expecting something of me I am all in, ha.
The last couple of weeks have had some ups and downs. My life has so many wonderful things, and it also has some painful and sad parts. I do try to be real on here, but also keeping in mind that this is a very public space. I love the image above so much because it is so very true and it is something that I try very hard to keep in mind when interacting with the world around me.
I am a glass half full person. I think because I have such great supports and self-care practices in place, it helps me focus on the good parts BECAUSE I am able to process the tougher stuff when it comes up. This is a work in progress of course, but I think it is important to mention as these posts are definitely more of the “highlight reel” kind of recaps. Okay, moving on!
Sunday Routines:
I am a little off schedule today because Lucas was away for the night at his family’s deer camp. He isn’t a hunter but going to camp is one of his very favorite things to do this time of year. He ends up bringing the kids with him a lot because we try and coordinate it with when Kristy and I are teaching on the weekends so this was a nice adult only visit for him!
Normally Sunday mornings are my barre and grocery shopping time, sometimes mixed in with a visit to Target to peruse the bookshelves. Last weekend I got together with one of my reading buddies and we had a great Pure Empower workout with Lauren and then walked around Target and caught up. My friendships are so very important to me, and there are certain times when you just need them a lot more and this is definitely one of those times.
Snow Days!
By mid-month, the boys already had TWO snow days. I think they are much easier to take this time of year than in say, late March but I was still a bit surprised. The boys were super excited of course and it was a reminder for us that it was time to pull out (and FIND) all the winter gear.
Currently Wearing…ALL the Winter Gear
We have built up quite the collection of Skida accessories over the year and especially love hitting up their Summer Sidewalk Sale in August to replenish anything that gets lost at school.
It doesn’t matter how much you label the crap out of your kid’s stuff, some of it WILL go missing and it hurts a bit less when at least you know you got a good deal on them! We have also had great luck with LL Bean gloves for the kids!
Darn Tough
For socks, we LOVE Darn Tough socks and they are guaranteed for life! I love the Women’s Stripe Micro Crew Cushion style that is the perfect height and feel snug enough without feeling like they are cutting off your circulation on your ankles!
Bogs For Life
We are big Bogs fans around here. Bogs Boots are our go-to footwear for our whole family from late October until the end of April. I updated mine this year after having my pair for 5+ years and I went with the Women’s Whiteout Bogs that are super easy to slip on and off (A MUST for me with winter boots) are so warm and cozy and waterproof. I loved my Plimsoll Bogs but these have even better traction for better grip on ice and snow. I am ladies size 8.5 in most shoes and I size up to a 9 in Bogs. I find that having a bit of extra room is super helpful, especially when wearing heavier socks this time of year.
While I could never be a fashion blogger (LOL) I can talk for days about winter outwear and basically anything from LL Bean or Talbotts…
You can find the Kids Rain and Winter Boot Bogs HERE.
When you have the right winter clothing, getting outside this time of year is the best! One of my favorite ways to get together with friends is to go for a walk. Kristy and do this on our lunch break at work because she has some great trails right behind her house.
I have been trying to prioritize this lately as I have a bit more flexibility during the work week now that photography season is slowing down a bit and it is so good for our mental health…there really is nothing like some fresh air and sunshine.
This week Buzz and I met my friend Elisa for a walk at Shelburne Bay and went on a lunch hour walk with Kari up Mt. Philo. All of these walks take less than from start to finish so they are perfect to add in during our day when we don’t have a long block of time available.
Currently Embracing…Weekend Walks
We are also embracing the slower-paced time of this year on the weekends. Being cooped up with kids is not for the faint of heart so getting everyone outside at least once a day is necessary no matter what the weather conditions are. While we love to walk in the woods around our house, it is hunting season now so we stick to parks and places that off-limits for that until it is over in December.
A Night Out With Friends
It is rare that I do something at night (besides our Better Together Book Club!) because I am not a night owl, and especially this time of year when it gets dark out at 4pm. But when Sonja at Owl Feet Studio announced she was having her first Ladie’s Night Out, I was going to be there!
When I told Lucas I was going to attend a Shibori night, he definitely chuckled. Shibori is a cloth dyeing method originating in Japan in the 18th century and utilizes the incredible properties of the indigo plant (This is Sonja’s great description, not mine!) It is a similar process to tie-dying but because you use indigo, it results in beautiful shades of deep blue.
As a photographer, I am definitely a creative person, but I also like things just so(hence why I spend my work life in Lightroom and Photoshop, ha)
So going with the flow isn’t the most comfortable thing for me. I like having a concrete plan and detailed instructions! It ended up being such a fun night and it was also great to get a little out of my comfort zone. I can’t wait for her next Art Night Out!
Currently Loving…Barre Book Club!
I know I talk about barre all the time, but it is just such a positive part of my life (and one of my biggest forms of regular self-care). The Pure Barre community is definitely the number one reason why. I am a group exerciser for many reasons (motivation because of signing up ahead of time is one of them) but I also love how it brings me together regularly with such a wonderful group of (mostly) women.
I love arriving a bit early to have time to catch up and love that we now have an (unofficial) Barre Book Club! In addition to chatting about all sorts of random things, our local studio has become an awesome place to share recommendations and also to exchange books!
And whenever I post a photo with my barre socks, I get asked what kind they are! A barre studio opened near my friend Sarah’s house recently and she asked me if I had recommendations for my favorite sticky socks and these are it! If you haven’t been to a barre class before, most barre studios have you wear socks (no shoe) that help you grip the floor, which especially comes in handy during planks and pushups.
The Tavi Noir Chloe ones are my current favorite. We started having them in our studio last spring and the pair I bought them have held us amazingly well and are still super sticky and grippy! They are super comfortable and the criss-cross straps stay put and don’t dig in at all like I worried about when I first saw them.
An Amazing Homegoods Find
The other weekend, Flynn and I hit up Homegoods to browse the aisles, and we walked away with this Quilted Eddie Bauer Dog Pullover for Buzz! Pullovers are necessary when you have winter weather for 6 months of the year (they are pretty much all I wear…) and I couldn’t resist this one for him when it was under $15…and now we can match!!
I mean, is there anything better than twinning with your dog? I don’t think so!
Currently Becoming…A Harry Potter Fan
I have to admit, I have never read the Harry Potter series…and I don’t know that I really want to…
A few years ago my friend Kari recommended the Illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to get our family going on the Harry Potter train. Well three years later, our 9-year-old decided to dive in…better late than never right?
He is loving this version so much that has taken to reading right after school which isn’t the norm around, that’s for sure. Both of our boys have really grown to love reading but it is normally something they do in the evening before bed.
After much apprehension, I started The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes this week! I often get a little wary of books that are SUPER HYPED UP but this one really is amazing. I have been alternating listening to it on Audible and reading Kristy’s hard copy Book of the Month copy and am just loving it.
Fireside Reading (and Napping!)
While this time of the year can be tough with the lack of daylight, it is also such a wonderfully cozy time of year. There is nothing like cuddling up next to the fire and reading an engrossing novel or taking a nap on the couch. After Thanksgiving next week the full rush of the holiday season will be upon on us so I am trying to soak in the quiet moments like this.
I hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend! I have some great book reviews in the blog line up and another What’s On Your Nightstand? post coming your way soon!
Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
You are stronger than your anxiety—you are mighty. In this empowering guide, you’ll find practical tools to help you shed the shackles of worry and fear and embrace a more vibrant life.
In a culture where women are still paid less for doing the same jobs, expected to juggle family and career effortlessly, and faced with the harsh realities of misogyny and sexism daily, it’s no wonder you’re also twice as likely to experience issues related to anxiety and trauma. But there are real tools you can use now to build personal resilience in a difficult world, move past anxious thoughts, and conquer your worries and fears. This book will help guide the way.
Be Mighty leads you on a bold quest to gain a deeper understanding of your anxiety by exploring your own “origin story”—how your early experiences led to thoughts and behaviors that may have offered comfort and protection at one time, but are now keeping you from living your best life. Using practical tools and experiential exercises based in mindfulness and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), you’ll learn to respond to present-day triggers in a new way, making choices from a more conscious, values-driven place.
So, drop that outdated armor and dive headlong into this book. You’ll emerge fresh and fierce, with the confidence to stand up for the life you want to live and the power to face life’s complexities as your best, most authentic self. It’s time to be who you truly want to be. It’s time for you to be mighty!
As someone who deals with anxiety, I am always drawn to books that talk about it in a real way. Anxiety isn’t something that can be extinguished but it can be managed. Be Mighty sold me with its gorgeous cover and tag line about liberation from anxiety, worry, and stress. The introduction was just beautifully written and I love the idea that “brokenness” can actually be a wonderful tool in our paths of life.
“All emotions—the ones we like and the ones we think we’d rather do without—have purpose and value.”
Author Jill Stoddard shares that there isn’t a human that hasn’t deal with some kind of struggle or pain. These struggles can get us down or they can also speak to us and help us understand what we need in our lives to be healthier and happier. Instead of working to avoid discomfort, when we let ourselves really feel, we can then really bloom as whole and imperfect people. Allowing ourselves to feel “all the things” can help guide us on our paths instead of just trying to avoid things that “hurt”.
“The Comfort Zone is cozy. But it is never where the magic happens.”
Stoddard walks us through what stress and anxiety are and also identified how these things aren’t a problem in themselves but more so when they become excessive. As someone who has previously experienced debilitating anxiety, I appreciated the idea that it wasn’t so much that it happened but that it started interfering in my daily life. Her writing is relatable but also super informative. I loved that she was able to explain this all in a completely accessible manner. Her proactive ideas like using mindfulness were explained clearly and effectively.
“Mindfulness is the key to unlocking the space between detonator and bomb, where we can slow down, observe, and experience the moment fully and without defense. This disables our autopilot, deactivates our bomb, and allows us to discover and experience life, as it is, rather than what the mind says it is.”
I could go on and on about this one because I really got so much out of it but I will just say that while books about stress and anxiety are nothing new, I loved this fresh and approachable take on the subject and I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and New Harbinger Publications for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
Are you a nonfiction reader? I love a good nonfiction book, especially related to mental health and parenting. It’s no surprise that out of all the non-fiction books I read this year, those genres ended up being my favorites. If you are participating in #nonfictionnovember and are needing a few more recommendations to finish your month off strong, I have some great recommendations!
I first read Fair Play this past September when I received a copy from Putnam Books to review. You can read my full review of Fair Play HERE.
I was immediately enthralled with the concept of Fair Play and was talking all about all over social media. I was so excited when a few weeks later Reese picked it for her Hello Sunshine book club selection.
Fair Play was the perfect follow up book to All The Rage, which I am discussing below. As someone who has been parenting for 9+ years, we have fallen into many societal norms and expectations that we didn’t see coming when we found out we were going to be parents 10 years ago. This book helps you feel less alone and then gives you a proactive answer on how to alleviate it!
I ended up communicating with Eve Rodsky over direct messages on Instagram (which was also one of my highlights of 2019!) and we discussed how to make this plan work by not only our initial conversation about it but also ongoing. Eve had some amazing advice, namely, they don’t stop talking about it and they have a time each week when she and her husband sit down and reflect, manage and plan. While this may sound a little… unromantic, I will tell you, it is a lot more enticing than the worst R-word in parenthood…RESENTMENT.
I listened to All The Rage on Audible and wow, what a powerful read! You can read my full review HERE.
In All The Rage, Darcy Lockman shares a well researched and relatable look at social expectations, male privilege, and sexism when it comes to parenting in the 21st century. Lockman uses studies, research, interviews with parents, and her own personal experiences which results in a well balanced and deeply impactful look at the gender inequity that working mothers still face today and the mental load women face as mothers.
Whether you are a parent or thinking about becoming one someday, this book is so insightful and thought-provoking. I appreciated Lockman’s personal experiences as they related to many issues we faced in our own experiences as partners and parents. While many people think “this won’t happen to me” a large percentage of family’s fall into the expectations that have become ingrained in our society.
Lori Gottlieb is a therapist who shares her insights not only about her professional experience but her own journey through therapy. This book helps normalize therapy for everyone, and her ability to share the profound growth both she and her patients experienced was so honest and refreshing.
While Gottlieb includes many important psychological concepts, her writing is clear and conversational and easy for anyone to engage with. I found that there was a perfect balance with the personal stories that will also help her readers become more aware of their own obstacles and moments of growth as they move through this book.
Motherhood is the hardest AND most wonderful thing I have ever done. While I am lucky to have had many conversations with the people in my personal life, never have I read something that explains the complexities of motherhood and marriage in such a profound manner until I read To Have and To Hold.
The highs and lows of parenthood, the immense love and also the intense quest to reclaim ourselves as women and partners when our lives will never be the same are so real and valid.
To Have and to Hold spoke to me on so many levels. Millwood’s ability to write with both her voice as a professional and her voice as a mother was a perfect balance. It is relatable and real and I still can’t stop thinking about it. I loved it so much we chose it for our first Better Together Motherhood Book Club selection this fall AND Molly was our guest speaker!!
I did think the information they shared was fabulous and the explanation of completing the actual stress cycle was brilliant. Honestly, I had never thought about it in that way before and it makes SO much sense. That section alone made this book super helpful to me and I have been recommending it to so many friends.
They also included some great practical advice about choices we CAN make when we can’t always control outside stress in our lives. While it may not have been earth-shattering information, it was a great reminder of the things that we have control over in our own lives.
Suggestions like prioritizing sleep, connecting with others, and showing yourself compassion are such powerful and attainable things we can do right away to help our own responses to external stressors. So while this wasn’t my favorite audiobook, this WAS an amazingly helpful book and I added a hardcopy to my collection right away!
I hope one of these recommendations makes your nonfiction TBR list. <3
Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
After a little hiatus, I am so excited to bring back my book friends series, What’s On Your Nightstand? If you need a little refresher, each week I invite a book-loving friend to share their recent reading lists, including what they have recently read(and loved OR didn’t love!), what they are currently reading and what’s coming up next. In addition, we get to know them as readers and get small peek into their regular lives as well.
Today I am excited to introduce you to my friend Kristina!
Kristina and I met over our love our reading on Bookstagram. We bonded when we realized that we were reading a lot of the same exact books and having very similar reactions. Kristina is an amazing book reviewer and her reading genres are very in sync with mine so I can always count on her for a great recommendation or honest feedback about ones I should skip! I can’t wait for you to get to know Kristina more today, she’s wonderful.
Nightstand Series Introduction:
Hi, my name is Kristina!! I live in New Jersey with my husband and two children—-a 15-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy. A month ago we adopted our 1 1/2-year-old kitty, Nala. She completes our family. I work as a Program Coordinator for a non-profit organization, working with individuals that are homeless and have a severe or persistent mental health diagnosis.
As a family, we enjoy watching movies together, traveling and exploring different places. I enjoy walking when the weather is nicer. Another hobby (besides reading) is looking up new places that we could travel to in the future.
Another hobby of mine is to write reviews for my Bookstagram. I enjoy reading others’ reviews and writing about the books I read. It’s a way to connect and build a community. My Instagram handle is: @kristinasbookishlife
What Kind of Reader Are You?
I remember learning how to read when I was about 4 years old. I would sit down with my father and try to read the comics section, while he read the newspaper. One day it just clicked. Another early memory was reading Dr. Seuss books. I have been reading since that day and only took breaks during Grad school and when my children were newborns.
What Time of Day do You do Most of Your Reading?
I enjoy reading in the early morning. I usually get about 30 minutes to read in the morning before it’s time to get up and ready. I feel that reading in the morning sets the tone for the day. I recently started listening to audiobooks so as I get ready, head into work, and on the way home, I will listen to one. When I come home, I make dinner, spend time with the family, and then will get about 2-3 hours of reading done. I’m not a person that will watch tv or movies unless it is a family movie night on a Friday. Therefore, I get a ton of reading done!
What Books Are You Currently Reading?
I am currently reading The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes.This has been on my TBR for a long time, so when @meetmeinthestacks and @lauralovestoread announced they were doing a buddy read, I said why not? This book has grasped my attention from the beginning but I have slowly been working my way through it. Looking forward to seeing how it unravels!!
I recently read Long Bright River by Liz Moore. I was lucky enough to win the book in a Goodreads giveaway. This book came on my radar a few months ago and what drew me to it was that it’s based in Philadelphia(Philly). I consider Philly my home away from home, my mother still resides there. What captured and kept my attention though was the two main characters, Mickey and Kacey. This book was so much more than a mystery.
The mystery is that Mickey is a police officer walking the same beat where her sister disappeared from. The story unfolds as she is on the search for her sister, as many women in the same section are killed. This is all in the synopsis so no spoilers!! But it’s so much more! As you see the past and present unfold you learn about the sisters and what lead them to their current path. It was an amazing read and a book that will stay with me for a long time!
Another read that I recently finished and will be pushing into friends and family’s hands is American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. From page one, you are literally thrown into the story of Lydia. A mother who experiences a horrific tragedy and is faced with the choice of giving up or doing what she can to survive. I read this book with my heart in my throat the entire time. It’s so relevant to the times we are in now. A necessary read.
What Are You Reading Next?
I am looking forward to reading Know My Name by Chanel Miller. I know it’s going to be a tough read but one that is necessary to read. I’m looking forward to reading her story as the victim and the impact it had on her. I’m looking forward to viewing her growth through the lens of a reader.
Are There Any Books You Read and Didn’t Love?
A book that I was excited for but haven’t been able to get through is Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. This was my most anticipated book of the year, so imagine my disappointment!! I attempted to read it three times but am having trouble getting past the first part. It doesn’t go in order and starts basically in the middle of the story. I am having trouble reading it for this very reason. I’m finding it confusing. I often do not finish books if it’s not for me; however, I want to try to read this one. We shall see if it actually happens.
What Are You Listening to?
As stated above, I am newly into audiobooks! I’m finding them great because I can listen to them as I get ready for work, make breakfast and dinner, on the way to and from work. Basically any time I can’t have a physical book in my hand!
I’m currently listening to Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern. It is amazing!! The narrator sounds great and just the overall magic of the story! It’s basically a story within a story and I am savoring every moment. I already know this will be a re-read or re-listen for me.
When I’m not listening to an audiobook, I enjoy catching up with a few different podcasts! My favorites are Sarah’s Bookshelves Live, All the Books, and What Should I Read Now.
What Else is on Your Nightstand?
Besides my basket full of books, I like to keep it pretty bare. I keep my book light on my nightstand and normally clip it to the basket that holds my books. I have many bookmarks on top and inside the nightstand (can never have too many of those)! On top of the nightstand, I keep 2 bottles of water, my Apple Watch, and phone on the charger. In the drawer, I have my nightly medications, lip balm, rings, a pen, post-its, socks, lotion, and body spray! At the bottom, where there is an open space I keep a box of tissues.
We got our nightstands from Target when we moved into our new apartment in August. My husband felt that we didn’t need them. I laughed and laughed because where’s a girl to keep her books?! Well, I still went ahead and ordered two, for each side of the bed. He now loves it just as much. His side is messier because he doesn’t have books that need protection!
Thank you so much for sharing today, Kristina! You were the perfect person to get this blog series back in action. <3
Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
Are you a podcast fan too? I regularly share about podcasts in my Coffee Talk | Currently Loving…posts but I haven’t shared a full blog post dedicated to podcasts since this past January. Along with audiobooks, podcasts are one of my favorite thing to do while doing tasks around our house, completing errands, commuting or doing computer work.
Podcasts are the perfect companion for so many reasons and because they cover such a wide variety of topics there is a podcast for pretty much anyone. My favorite podcast series tend to cover motherhood/family life, true crime, book chatter, personal development and topics of connection with others. Today I am going to recap some of my favorite recent episodes from the last few weeks, so here goes!
I have subscribed to Goal Digger for a couple of years now. I don’t listen to a lot of her episodes with guests, but I love the ones about social media and business/work life when she is just chatting by herself. The Instagram Hashtag Deep Dive episode was so illuminating, especially because I am someone who uses social media at work and personally and basically everything I thought I knew about hashtags was wrong, ha.
It’s no secret that I enjoy a good true-crime series. I tend to go for the deep dive ones where they go in deep about one specific event or person. Gangster Capitalism, Believed, 22 Hours: An American Nightmare and Man in the Window are some of my favorite series.
More recently I have gotten into a few series where the podcast hosts share about all different stories, like The Housewives of True Crime. I enjoy the banter between Gretchen and Tabitha and this episode was highly entertaining (especially as someone who also lives in a small town)although it’s definitely a little explicit if that kind of thing bothers you…
If you are looking for something a little more wholesome but still thoroughly entertaining, Sarah’s Book Shelves Live is a must. It is one of the only podcasts I play while the kids are in the car with me, and they actually even request it which is pretty cute. I especially love the mini-episodes where she features Bookstagrammers. This episode with Elizabeth AKA @samandscout was especially amazing and I loved her perspective as a teacher so much.
The Stacks is another amazing book podcast and this episode with Jami Attenberg, author of All This Could Be Yours was awesome. I loved Traci and Jami’s conversation so much and Jami’s idea that everyone brings their own experiences to art.
I often find that people react so differently to books when they can relate to the topic a lot, or not. All This Could Be Yours is a dysfunctional family saga (you can read my review HERE) and I loved how she masterfully shared how situations like this are rarely cut and dry.
Morbid is another one of those series that discusses random crimes and I have recently gone down the rabbit hole with this one! I think Ash and Alaina are hilarious together and they discuss true crime with the perfect amount of humor while also having so much compassion for the victims.
If you are looking for a new true-crime podcast to binge on, this is it! The episode they released today was just mind-boggling and I love how they discuss high profile cases as well as completely obscure one like this one.
Farnoosh and I go way back. She was one of the first podcast series that I got into the outside of Serial…and when I saw she was interviewing Eve Rodsky, author of Fair Play (you can read my review HERE) I couldn’t listen fast enough!\
I loved hearing their conversation about Fair Play as they are both working mothers and because I am kind of obsessed with both of them, it was amazing hearing them having a conversation together!
I first learned about The Double Shift on The Best of Both Worlds Podcast when they interviewed the host Katherine Goldstein back in the spring. I recently was going back through older episodes and realized I have never listened to this episode…On Not Having It All.
I appreciated so much Goldstein’s vulnerability and openness to share both her personal, family and work challenges. I think we often see others address “problems” online and on social media once they are resolved. But we often don’t see the in-between moments of struggle and sometimes hopelessness. So many of us are in the middle of something, and knowing this can help make us feel less alone, even if our struggles are very different.
I was so excited when I saw that the third season of Committed was started this fall. I love Jo Piazza as an author (hello Charlotte Walsh Like to Win!!) but did you know she is an amazing podcaster and interviewer as well?! I love hearing about other people’s relationship dynamics so it is no surprise that a podcast all about relationships is right up my alley.
While I have so many favorite interviews in this series, this episode was one of my very favorites. Piazza is such a connector and you can see this with how she is able to talk with such ease with so many people about topics that aren’t always “the norm”. This episode was eye-opening and also such a great reminder about acceptance and realizing that what works for you might not work for others and vice versa.
Best of Both Worlds
The Best of Both Worlds Podcast is one of my old podcast standbys. I started listening to it right from the beginning and I have loved seeing it develop over the last two years. I love how Sarah and Laura unapologetically talk about how they make work and life fit together but also all the guests they have introduced me to.
Their recent episode about cooking for a family with Cassy Joy Garcia was fantastic! If you ask most parents, dinner time is one of the biggest stressors of family life, it certainly is at our house. Garcia discusses her tips and tricks as well as sharing about her book Cook Once and Eat All Week which has amazing reviews.
I first listened to Laura Tremaine back when she was on the Sorta Awesome podcast. I have followed her over the years (her BIAS series on The Smartest Person in the Room was AMAZING!) So when I heard that Laura was started another podcast geared towards connecting us with ourselves and each other, I was on board!!
I don’t think there has been an episode that I haven’t loved but this recent one about tips to organize your photos with Miss Freddy was excellent! Kristy and I teach a workshop about photo organization and I still learned some new ideas!
And because I love 10 Things to Tell You so much…here are three other episodes that I just enjoyed so much and cover basically my favorite topics ever, books and skincare(you can read my post about my own skincare routine HERE)
Alright, I think that covers it for now! Do you have any podcast recommendations? I would love to hear!
Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
Journalist, bestselling author of MWF Seeking BFF, and mother of two Rachel Bertschetries to find calm among the chaos and reclaim a personal life while raising her young kids and offers solutions for how all parents can do the same, once The Kids Are in Bed.
Picture it—it’s 8:30 p.m. You close the door to your child’s room just as you hear your partner closing the dishwasher. Your home is clean (enough). You’ve dealt with all the last-minute work emails. And now it’s time for an hour or two of glorious freedom. What do you do? Read the book you’ve been waiting to crack open all day? Chat on the phone with a friend, glass of wine in hand, or go out and meet old friends and share a whole bottle? Or, like many modern parents, do you get caught up in chores, busywork, and social media black holes?
Recent time-use studies show that even working parents have as many as 30 hours of leisure time a week, yet very few people know how to actually use that time to do something— anything!—pleasurable and fulfilling. In an original survey conducted for this book, 71 percent of parents said their free time didn’t feel free at all, because they were still thinking about all the things they should be doing for their kids, their jobs, and their households.
Rachel Bertsche constantly found herself in exactly that bind. Using a combination of memoir, interviews with scientists and parenting experts, and input from moms and dads all over the country, Rachel figured out how to transform her own patterns and reconnect to her pre-kids life. In The Kids Are in Bed, other parents can learn how to do the same, and truly enjoy the time after lights out.
Publication Date:
January 7th, 2020
Genre:
Parenting/Time Management
My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
My Review:
The Kids Are in Bed was my first book by Rachel Bertsche. In a society where people (and especially parents) are feeling more burnt out than ever before, I love the idea of rethinking the time that we DO have. The Kids Are in Bed shared some proactive ideas for parents about not getting “stuck” in every day (sometimes very monotonous) family life grind and utilizing the downtime that you do have in your daily/weekly/monthly schedules.
I thought Bertsche really succeeded at sharing helping everyday tips and hack to not falling into the trap of not having enough time for ourselves, our marriage, friendships, etc. While life may look a lot different than it did “before kids” and the “downtime” we have may well be less, when we look at our habits and chunks of time, it can help us adjust the way we utilize it.
I did find that the stories in The Kids Are In Bed were primarily about her own very specific situation (with fairly young children), and although she did share ideas cited directly from other sources, I would have loved for there to be a bigger variety of examples of family life, especially with different aged children.
The challenges vary so much as you move through the life stages of having kids at home from babies to teens…all with their own set of positives and challenges. I think this would open this book up to a larger audience and also help broaden the perspective beyond her own immediate experiences.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.
Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains’ toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store’s security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right.
But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix’s desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix’s past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.
With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone “family,” the complicated reality of being a grown-up, and the consequences of doing the right thing for the wrong reason.
Publication Date:
December 31st, 2019
Genre:
Fiction
My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
My Review:
Such a Fun Age is the debut novel by Kiley Reid. This is one of those books that is written in a light and engaging manner but is deceptively heavy-hitting. It a compelling contemporary fiction novel that dives into racial issues from two very different standpoints as well as how we identify with ourselves and with one another.
We meet two women, Emira Tucker and Alix Chamberlain. Emira babysits for Alix’s young daughter Briar and after a late-night incident where Emira is stopped by security when she is out with Briar, everything changes. While Emira deals with the aftermath of this incident, Alix resolves to make this “right”.
While this book is absolutely engrossing to read, Reid also takes on the issue of “white savior” narratives. I appreciated that Reid created multi-faceted and incredibly detailed characters within these narratives. While I couldn’t entirely relate to either of these women, I felt I understood them and a lot of this came from knowing their backstories.
I appreciated that Emira and Alix were both imperfect in their own ways which I think added so much nuance to this storyline. Such a Fun Age was a fascinating and thought-provoking read and I just enjoyed Reid’s writing style so much. I predict this one will get a lot of buzz when it is released at the end of December!
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Son’s for an advanced copy.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!
All four of the currently available illustrated Harry Potter books are part of this sale! Our older son has been reading the first one and I used this deal to grab books 2-4 for him for Christmas and he is going to be so excited. I still haven’t read them, but his enthusiasm for them has been intriguing!
One of my very favorite things is handing over the parenting reigns, closing the bathroom door and sinking into a nice, hot bubble bath. The boys also like taking baths and so I like finding bath products that work for our entire family. All three of these recommendations create the perfect amount of bubbles and smell amazing without being too strong…they also are moisturizing without feeling greasy!
