Ali Edwards's Blog, page 137

December Daily® 2018 | Day Twelve

Welcome to 
December Daily® 2018 Day 12. 

On the 12th day of the 12th month Elliott turned 12. A "golden birthday" for a kid who is truly a kind, fun, special kid - I am so thankful I get to be a part of his life and it was so great to get to take him to New York earlier this month (more on that adventure soon). For my story today I wrote a little note to him in the reverse shape of the heart I used yesterday (I printed that note twice and added it to the bulletin board in his bedroom). 

Here's a look at how I celebrated him in my album: 

I used my 
Epson PictureMate PM400 to print the 5x7 photo - you'll hear me say in the video that the reason I chose that size is because I'm out of my other sizes of photo paper. Ha. Make do with what you have is how I'm working today. 

I moved my original 12 chipboard from the embellishment tree I created in 
December Daily® Product Play 2 to this day and will use that tree for my story tomorrow. 

My journaling is a little note to Elliott that was added to the back of yesterday's 
vellum printed photo. In yesterday's post I included a digital package with the book club heart and the reverse of the heart to be able to adhere the same shape on the back of the vellum. 

To create this I hand-wrote the message, scanned it in using Illustrator, traced the design and then reversed the colors to get the white type on the black heart. I did something similar in my album last year
here.

Along the outside edge of the photo I added an Avery Index Tab and used a stamp from my Brave Stamp Set (available in my shop). 

VIDEO OVERVIEWSUPPLIES
Strathmore Ink Jet Translucent Vellum Epson PictureMate PM400 (can print both 4x6 and 5x7) Silhouette Gold Star Brads 6 Hole Punch Brave/Encouragement Stamp Set Avery Index Tab Gold Dot Chipboard Numbers

Joy Story Kit™ + Story Stamp™ + January Stories By The Month™

In the 
Story Classroom this month we are focusing on stories related to the theme of Joy.

Here are a few thoughts about this particular theme: 

Joy can be laughing out loud silliness or tiny moments found in in-between times. It can be something that’s on-going in your life or it can be something that’s harder to grab onto at different points in our lives. This month we are telling stories about where and when and how we find joy.

Initial story ideas for the Joy theme include: 

Make a list of the 10 things that are bringing you the most joy right now in your life. When in your life have you felt the most joyful and what were the circumstances? How do you currently find joy in your everyday life right now?

If you are new to the Story Subscription program, check out all the details 
here. 

If you are already a subscriber the content in the classroom will be available to you on the 15th.

STORY KIT™

Here's a look at
the
Story Kit™ contents for Joy:

ADD ON OPTIONS | Current and new subscribers can select + purchase Add-On's via your new drop-down menu access under your user name in the top right corner of the site. If you subscribe to more than one you will have a Box for each subscription and the ability to purchase Add-On's for each one. Depending on product availability subscribers may be able to purchase the Add-On's after the Add-On period has ended and regular shop shipping rates will apply because they will ship separately from the kit.

Here are the optional Add-Ons for subscribers of the Joy 
Story Kit™ theme. All three of these products are exclusive to subscribers at this time (but may be added to the shop in the future). 

Here's a video overview of the 
Story Kit™ and Add-On options this month:

STORY STAMP™

The Joy Stamp Set:

The 
Story Stamp™ also has Add-On options available to subscribers:

Here's a video overview of the 
Story Stamp™ and Add-On options this month: 

DIGITAL STORY KIT™

Your digital kit and the classroom and any Add-Ons purchased will be available to you on the 15th once your card has been charged for the month. 

Here's a look at what's included in the Digital Story Kit™ for Joy: 

And a couple peeks at the layouts I created with the kits this month in addition to the one featured at the top of this post (
full details, including process videos and how-to handout, are included with subscription):

Again, thanks so much for subscribing and/or considering my
Story Subscription program! If you have any questions about this program please let me know below in the comments. 

STORIES BY THE MONTH™

Currently each 
Stories By The Month™ kit includes chipboard, 3x4 and 4x6 cards, and a 3x4 stamp. These are all based on the designs we offered digitally each month throughout 2018. 

Here is a full look at the kit for January: 

Here's a look at the Add-On options for Stories By The Month™ subscribers this month: 

And a video overview: 

This subscription is a great option for those who are looking to tell more calendar/everyday life sorts of stories. 

Check out
this post for more information about this new subscription, including differences between the subscription options offered. 

December Daily® 2018 | Day Eleven

Welcome to
December Daily® Day 11! 

Today I'm telling the story of my book club get together last night - it was so fun to get together with everyone in our Christmas PJ's and chat and hang out and talk about reading 
The Alice Network. 

One of the things on my list to do in my album this year was print a photo on 
vellum. You'll read more about that below and can see more in the video overview. 

Also, I've added a digital download for you today that includes the "
Book Club Love"  heart you see in my spread today and the reverse heart image. 

Download this file here.

Here's a look at how I added this story to my album: 

This spread includes the back of a 3-pocket page protector and a sheet of printed vellum with a Silhouette cut heart on top. 

I used gold star brads on top of the "so great" card and added a chipboard heart on top of my photo. 

I ended up using the digital version of the Main Kit to print out my journal card. 

Printing photos on vellum is easy and fun. I edited my photo in Photoshop (changing it to black and white and then using the clone tool to extend the length of the floor in front of us - the image size is the same as the page protectors) and printed it on Strathmore Ink Jet Translucent Vellum using my Canon Pixma MG7720.

On top of the vellum photo I used my Silhouette to cut out the "book club love" heart (available via the download above) and added a star brad and the number 11 (gold numbers from the Main Kit). 

VIDEO OVERVIEW
SUPPLIES
December Daily® 2018 Main Kit December Daily® 2018 Main Kit Digital  December Daily® Be Merry + Celebrate Chipboard Bundle Strathmore Ink Jet Translucent Vellum Canon Pixma MG7720 Printer Silhouette Red Cardstock Gold Star Brads 6 Hole Punch

December Daily® 2018 | Day Ten

Welcome to December Daily® 2018 Day 10. 

When I planned out my foundation pages I knew I'd want something simple for this day to get me going again once we returned from our trip. 

One of the things I want to remind you is that this project can be wonderfully and beautifully simple. Pair a journal card with your story, a journal card with a phrase, and one 4x6 photo and call it good. It doesn't have to take a lot of time to be meaningful. My story today is about getting back into the swing of things here at home after our whirlwind trip to NYC. 

I'm planning to carve out some time over the next few days to get my photos + ephemera from my trip into my traveler's notebook and will share days 5-9 with you when that is complete.

Here's a look at my simple approach to Day Ten: 

As you'll see in the video I moved the red sentiment card and replaced it with this grey one instead. 

Rather than writing directly onto the original journaling card I decided to type up my journaling and then cut out the top wreath and bottom strip of the original journaling card and add it to the one with my printed journaling. I used small scissors to cut around the wreath design. 

We had a great time on our adventure and I'm super happy to be back home and settling into the rest of this season. 

VIDEO OVERVIEWSUPPLIES
December Daily® 2018 Main Kit Rolling Date StampFiskars Small Scissors Epson PictureMate PM400SHARE YOUR DAY TEN

You are invited to leave a link in the comment section if you'd like to share your daily pages. As usual, please include a direct link to your blog post sharing your Day 10 vs. a general blog address link.

December Daily® 2018 | Tag Book Bonus Video

While I'm away for a couple days I wanted to share how I ended up putting together a simple little tag book that goes into the front of my December Daily® 2018 album. More details and the tag template download is included in the December Daily® Product Play 2 workshop or you could make your own customized to your family. 

As you've heard me mention already this season, I love bringing other people's voices into my projects. Handing over a tag for your kids/parents/family/friends to write down a couple things this holiday is a great way to include their voices. I invited Aaron to do it again but he's asked that I keep his private so I'm respecting his wishes. The rest of the crew was on board. 

I printed out the tags and then asked them all to do the writing the other day before we decorated the tree (you can read that story from Day 3 here). 

One of my favorite things is seeing what they are thankful for: 

In addition to their words I had each one pick out their current favorite ornament while they were decorating the tree and I brought them outside and took a photo to add to the top of the tag. I cropped the photos to 4 inches x 2.5 inches. 

Super fun and not complicated and meaningful. Just as it should be. 

VIDEO OVERVIEW
SUPPLIES
Tag template from Product Play 2 Workshop Power Punch Tim Holtz Typed Tokens (metal circle) Crate Paper Very Merry Tags Story Kit™ Envelope

December Daily® 2018 | Day Four

Welcome to December Daily® 2018 Day 4. 

Today my story is about getting ready to head out on our trip to New York City. It includes a photo of me working, a card from the Main Kit, journaling and another flip up - this time using vellum (I got inspired by seeing a stamped vellum page from Virginie - a member of the December Daily® Facebook Group). 

My process video today is a great example of ways you can make this project super simple and ways that you can build on that simplicity to play more when you have time. 

Just a heads up that I will be traveling through December 9th and will begin posting again here to my blog when I return. I'll be documenting my trip with the traveler's notebook I set up - you can see that in my Foundation Pages - and will share that and get back to regular posting for this project when I return home. You can follow along with how I document during my trip via the @decemberdaily Instagram account. 

Here's a look at how I tackled Day Four: 

I started out with a super simple idea to simply tell the story of getting ready to head out on our trip. For me that means getting all my work squared away and helping the boys get packed. 

As I was working on my page I decided to add another flip up using vellum + jumbo alpha stamps. 

As you'll see in the video below, I created this flip up and wasn't thinking about the fact that this side of the page protector isn't open. To fix that issue I used a craft knife and cut a slit in the page protector (making sure to keep the side seams in place) to be able to use a flip through on this side. 

On top of the vellum I also added some of the small gold stars from the Glitter Star Sequin Bundle using a glue pen. 

VIDEO OVERVIEW

PS // Sorry for the lighting in the video today. I had a small window to get it done and the morning light was not ideal.

SUPPLIES
December Daily® 2018 Main KitPaislee Press December Daily® KitGlitter Star Sequins Bundle Educational Insights See & Stamp Jumbo Alpha Glue Pen Vellum Package StazOn Black Ink Washi Tape (similar options) Epson PictureMate PM400SHARE YOUR DAY FOUR

You are invited to leave a link in the comment section if you'd like to share your daily pages. As usual, please include a direct link to your blog post sharing your Day 4 vs. a general blog address link.

December Daily® 2018 | Day Three

Welcome to 
December Daily® 2018 Day Three. 

As many of you know, the kids around here aren't all here all the time so when that does happen we like to take advantage of the opportunity to do things together. 

My story today is about asking the kids to fill out the tags that will become part of the tag book in the front of my album (I'll share more about that another day) and decorating the tree. We go for super low-key tree decorating and a family tree that only holds ornaments that belong to the kids.
This is seriously my favorite thing. They each have a storage box that holds their ornaments and they will each get to take that with them when they move out on their own. It's a tradition that my family started when I was a kid and one of my favorites to pass on to these guys. 

Here's how this story played out in my album: 

When you watch the video below you'll see that I started out with a 6x8 photo that was inc color. I ended up switching it out because it felt too pink/warm - it happens. I also switched my Day 3 + Day 4 cards from my 
Foundation Pages. 

On top of that 6x8 I added 
a large plastic circle + a chipboard circle (both from the Main Kit) along with a gold foil dot chipboard number. I also added a bit of washi tape to go along with the washi I used on the flip up on the second page of the spread. 

I created a flip-up page over top of my tree decorating photo using a pattern transparency piece, washi tape, and a chipboard star. 

The 4x6 photo with the white border was printed on my Epson PictureMate PM400 - that's the printer I use for all my 4x6 prints. 

Simple hand-written journaling directly onto a 3x4 card from the Main Kit for the win. 

DAY THREE VIDEO OVERVIEW

SUPPLIES
December Daily® Main Kit December Daily® Gold Foil Chipboard Numbers December Daily® December Moments Chipboard Bundle Washi Tape (similar options)  Gold Dot Transparency (similar transparencies) Tiny Attacher Canon MG7720 Printer (newer version here) Epson PictureMate PM400SHARE YOUR DAY THREE

You are invited to leave a link in the comment section if you'd like to share your daily pages. As usual, please include a direct link to your blog post sharing your Day 3 vs. a general blog address link.

December Daily® 2018 | Day Two

For today's December Daily® story I decided to play around with digital layered templates as a home for my words and photos.

And, of course, we love Star Wars.  

A few months back I saw that the Eugene Symphony was going to be playing the score to the original Star Wars movie while the movie was playing. I knew it would be an awesome activity for this crew and a great way to kick off the holiday season. Nothing about the evening disappointed. 

Remember that not all my days/stories will include this many photos. It just happens to be a time when all the kids are here and we've got something fun planned. There are definitely "quiet days" stories to come. That's actually one of the things I love about this project - the opportunity to tell a variety of stories. 

Here's how it all ended up looking in my album: 

Big photos for the win again today. 

When we are all out together I'm always looking for opportunities to get everyone in a photo together. I love seeing how they all interact together and who is chatting with who and what they are talking about. Last night's dinner included conversations about the passing of George HW Bush, 9-11, squishies, whether or not they could have soda with dinner, Simon finding something to select from the sushi-go-around, and Star Wars. 

I'm also always looking for an opportunity to add other voices to my album (and to any of my projects). Today I was able to do this by using Simon's caption from his Instagram post after the event. I love reading his own reflections on the event and what he had to say about it. I will also never ever tire of seeing him enjoying this kind of stuff. That right there is magic. 

I printed one of the photos that shows the screen, stage, etc in the 3x8 size and added it to the back of the page protector. On top I added an oval chipboard piece from this set. 

On top of this page I added the chipboard #2 from the Main Kit and stamped the date using my rolling date stamp. 

I use Photoshop to play around with my digital layered templates. One of the things I love about them is it can really help keep the focus on the words and photos. If you want to learn more about using my digital products in paper projects check out my Hybrid workshop. 

You can also read a recent guest post from Kelly Sill about using my digital products via apps. 

DAY TWO VIDEO OVERVIEWSUPPLIES

December Daily® 6x8 Layered Templates Vol. 5
December Daily® 3x8 Layered Templates
3x8 Page Protector
Avery Index Tab
StazOn Ink
December Daily® Chipboard Bundle: Be Merry & Celebrate
December Daily® 2018 Main Kit
Rolling Date StampSHARE YOUR DAY TWO

You are invited to leave a link in the comment section if you'd like to share your daily pages. As usual, please include a direct link to your blog post sharing your Day 2 vs. a general blog address link.

December Daily® 2018 | Day One

Welcome to December Daily® 2018 Day 01. 

This year I did something I have never done before: I ordered, received, addressed, and mailed the vast majority of my holiday cards before December began. 

It's actually what I asked for for my birthday this year in early November. I got the whole crew outside on a day everyone happened to be here, set up my timer on my camera, and took a couple photos of us. From there I brought my camera inside, uploaded the images, picked one, and then ordered my cards. 

And it made me so darn happy. 

Here's how I told the story in my album: 

Some stories call for more than one page and others can be told using one pocket. Today is one of those more-than-one-page days for me - this story ended up including a transparent page, our Christmas card, and an enlarged photo page that holds the story. 

The transparent page with the cork stars was completed in advance of December as part of my Foundation Pages. 

I use a 6 hole punch to easily punch things to add to my album. 

Minted is who I use for our holiday cards. They have long been a favorite of mine and they run specials from time to time so watch out for those if you haven't ordered cards yet.  

On the edge of our card I added an Avery Index Tab and stamped a couple sentiments from the Let Your Heart Be Light stamp set. 

To tell the story of our cards this year I took a photo of the cards on my kitchen counter. I left space in my photo above the cards as well as leaving one of the envelopes blank that I could use to hold my story, embellishments, etc. I added my journaling to my photo in Photoshop before printing - for this day I used my Canon MG7720 printer. 

After printing I used my Mixed Alpha set to stamp "ah yeah" directly onto the photo and then added some wood stars that were an Add On for Stories By The Month™. I also used a  rolling date stamp to add the date at the bottom of the photo. 

IDEA TO TRY 

Take photos with journaling/story in mind. Look for space which can become a home for your words. This can work in so many memory keeping projects and is one of my favorite ways to approach photo taking. 

DAY ONE VIDEO HOW TOSUPPLIES

Canon MG7720 Printer
Mixed Alpha Stamp Set 6x8
Black Staz On Ink
Stories By The Month™ Add On Wood Veneer Stars
6 Hole Punch
Avery Index Tabs
Let Your Heart Be Light Stamp Set
Scotch Rolling Adhesive
Rolling Date StampSHARE YOUR DAY 01

You are invited to leave a link in the comment section if you'd like to share your daily pages. As usual, please include a direct link to your blog post sharing your Day 1 vs. a general blog address link.

For The Love Of Books | What I Read In October + November 2018

Hello my fellow reading friends!

It's been a quiet couple of months on the reading front for me which is pretty standard for this time of year. Here's a look at what I read in both October and November.

NOVEMBER

A Ladder To The Sky (BOTM) // One of the things I love about being a Book Of The Month member is that I'm introduced to books and stories I might not otherwise read. Last year I read The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne and I loved it so much. When I saw he had another book this year I picked it as my selection immediately. It took me a night or two to get into this story - in the end I definitely enjoyed it even though the main character is very unlikeable - he's almost so unlikeable as to be likable. It's a story about someone who is willing to do anything to get ahead but it's not dark or heavy. I loved how Boyne used different narrators to tell the story from different points in time.

OCTOBER

Speak With Impact: How To Command The Room And Influence Others by Allison Shapira // I saw a friend on Instagram reference this book early last month and I ordered it to give me some additional things to think about going into a speaking event. I found it easy to read and valuable to my personal preparation for that event. She talks about speaking in both small and large groups. I can totally see myself picking this up as a reference again before other speaking engagements in the future.
I Think You're Wrong But I'm Listening by Sarah Stewart Holland + Beth Silvers // Advance copy of a book that will be released in February 2019. I'm a long time listener to Beth and Sarah's podcast Pantsuit Politics and was excited to dive into this book. I am almost done with this book and more than anything I feel like this book is a roadmap for being a good human - not just for learning how to have compassionate and reasonable discussions around politics but for any challenging discussions. Read it. BOOK OF THE MONTH SELECTION FOR DECEMBER

It's also time to select new books from 
Book Of The Month Club. 

As part of their Ambassador Program I get to order from their monthly selections a bit early in order to share with you and celebrate their new releases each month. This month I selected one book:

The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay

FULL LIST OF WHAT I'VE READ IN 2018

JANUARY 2018

The Heart's Invisible Furies (BOTM) // I super, super loved this book. Just go read it. Now. 
The Woman In The Window (BOTM) // Perfect suspense book. Great beach read.
Everyone Brave Is Forgiven // It’s been quite awhile since I underlined passages in a non-fiction book but I did a few times in this one because the language and imagery used was just so beautiful. It’s a story that will stick with me.
The Year Of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store // Super quick read on a topic I’m interested in - how less can mean more. This book is more memoir than how-to and I was interested in her story and all the ways in which she cake to having and wanting less. Glad I read it. It’s so much more than just a story of not shopping for a year.
Turtles All The Way Down (BOTM) // This one was a like but not love for me. I did really like some of the writing, especially towards the end, that related to the forward movement of life with mental illness. I think these kinds of stories are important and the pieces where he was writing about her self-talk/voices really resonated with me personally.

FEBRUARY 2018

Bel Canto (finished this one right at the end of January) // I really, really enjoyed this book. I love her writing style and I loved the way the story flowed all the way until the end. It felt super abrupt - but I guess that's how life goes sometimes too. I loved the themes of adaptation, of love, of change, of escape (literally from the life you were living one moment before), and the push and pull between relationships. Oh and it totally made me want to go to an opera.
The Great Alone (BOTM) // I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one last night because I just couldn't stop reading. I loved this book. I loved that Alaska + the climate was basically a character. The subject matter is challenging for sure - violence, loneliness, family issues, etc. - but the story is rich and complicated and well-told. Love these kinds of epic stories. So, so good. 
The Broken Girls (BOTM) // This book legitimately freaked me out multiple times. The kids around here all know I was reading a scary book because I kept saying “this book is scary” - ha. Loved the twists and turns - I zoomed through the last half super quick. If you are looking for a haunting style of story this one’s for you. I actually almost stopped reading it at one point but I am so glad I finished. 
An American Marriage // I read this one without knowing anything about it because it was recommended highly by a friend (and then I saw it popping up everywhere). This is an emotional, real, raw and very well written story that is different from what I've been reading lately. I love being surprised. Beautiful, compelling writing that really gets to the heart of complicated human relationships. A line I loved : "But mostly my life is good, only it's a different type of good from what I figured on." This has been the lesson of my life as well.

MARCH 2018

The Astonishing Color Of After (BOTM) // This book started out a little hard for me to get into but once I did I ended up adoring it. Totally adoring and loving it. I loved the interplay between the present and the past, the treatment of the experience of grief, learning about Chinese/Twaianese traditions, the magic of the way she views her family memories, and the continual use of colors as descriptors for scenes and feelings. I feel like this is one that will stay with me for a long time. SO GOOD.
The Last Equation Of Isaac Severy (BOTM) // This one took a long time to hook me - not sure if that was due to my sporadic reading this month or the story itself. I almost moved on 1/2 way through but decided to give it one more try over a weekend getaway and I was glad I did overall (but also happy to move on to the next story).

APRIL 2018

Educated : A Memoir // From the very beginning I loved the author's writing style and the way she was weaving her story. I think this is one of the best, if not the best, memoirs I've read. I want to tell you that I loved this book, but I don't know if "love" is the right word because it was a hard story to read at times - for all kinds of different reasons. What I loved about it was that it was a story of becoming - of finding yourself and your own story. There were so many times I had to stop to tell Aaron something that had happened as I was reading either because it was so crazy (either awesome or terrible or almost unbelievable). I love a book that encourages us to challenge our assumptions about the beliefs we grew up with and find ourselves within (and owning) our own individual story - whether we continue to believe or walk away or distance ourselves or reconnect. Highly recommended.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads (received from the publisher - also available via  BOTM ) // Back in 2014 I heard Clemantine speak in Washington DC at a summit on girls + women in Africa which was sponsored by the ONE Campaign and Google. The event itself and the stories presented were profoundly moving and educational. When I was offered an opportunity to receive an advance copy of this book I jumped at the chance to get to go deeper into Clemantine's story and I think this book is a must read. It's a hard, raw read and one that is super important for all of us as human beings. It's a complex story of her escape from the Rwandan massage as a child and eventual arrival in the United States as a refuge. It is also so much more than that story - she intimately shares the impact of that entire experience on the way she thinks about herself, the way she views the world, and the ways she has attempted to own her own story. It is a book about becoming. Highly recommended.
Then She Was Gone (BOTM) // I wasn't sure what I thought of this book at first and it felt a little slow at the beginning. But once it revealed a twist + then more twists, I was hooked. I liked that the narrative goes back and forth between characters - really showcasing their different motivations and personalities. It was a totally decent psychological thriller if you are into that genre I'd definitely recommend it. It would have made a good beach read.
Circe (BOTM) // I totally wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I picked it because I've been trying to challenge myself to read things I might not normally pick up this year (different genres, voices, etc). I found this one challenging to get into initially only because I can't remember much at all of the Greek Mythology I learned back in school (little bits here + there - but there are so many names) but once I just accepted that and started to reintroduce myself (via googling names and briefly reading their stories) I was totally into this story told from Circe's point of view. I actually decided that I liked not knowing "everything" about all the different Gods + Goddesses because it helped me to be surprised when the story revealed itself. I really, really liked how this book was written. I loved that is was from her point of view - so many interwoven themes popped up throughout the book: separation, love, fear, family, magic, monsters, bravery, and the ways we each own or own story. I think this one will stick with me for awhile.
First, We Make The Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety // I'm about half-way through this one and already know that I'm going to recommend it highly for anyone who has a history of anxiety or other mental illnesses. This book has comforted me, made me laugh, taught me lessons, and made me look at my anxiety/depression through a different lens. I may write more about this when I finish it during May but wanted to include it now because it's just so good. 

MAY 2018

First, We Make The Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety // I'm about half-way through this one and already know that I'm going to recommend it highly for anyone who has a history of anxiety or other mental illnesses. This book has comforted me, made me laugh, taught me lessons, and made me look at my anxiety/depression through a different lens. I may write more about this when I finish it during May but wanted to include it now because it's just so good. // I pre-ordered this book and read it quickly once I received it. I didn't read any reviews before I read it and I just let it be what it was without preconceived notions (I just read some reviews so that's top of mind as I write my own). I liked the rambling style of this book. I liked the storytelling aspect. I liked simply reading about someone else who lives with anxiety and how it manifests in their own life and the ways she has found to keep moving forward in her own life. I underlined a bunch of things that made me questions assumptions I have made about myself and the ways I've approached my own journey with anxiety + depression. I have been recommending it to friends who I think would benefit from simply reading her story.
The Mars Room (BOTM / AMAZON) // Hard to get into + hard to finish for me. Glad I read it, but not my favorite. It wasn't the subject matter but more the writing style that didn't hook me in - it felt really disjointed. I read another review where someone mentioned they would have rather had more from the main female character and I totally agreed with that. Just felt disjointed overall. That said, I have thought about this book multiple times since finishing - definitely a relevant conversation/topic in our world.
Destination Simple // This is a short, quick read with practical information related to slowing down. I especially loved a section near the end about the idea of "tilting" vs. attempting balance. Definitely in alignment with living in + being present in different seasons of our lives. I also really liked her ideas for morning and evening rituals.
Still Lives (BOTM / AMAZON) // Liked but not love. Definitely captivated me enough to read until the end to complete the story. I think this would make a good beach read if you are into mysteries.

JUNE 2018

George // I read this 3rd/4th grade book for my Book Club as a follow-up to our discussion of This Is How It Always Is and because the book has been a topic of conversation in our community and around Oregon since it was listed as an Oregon Battle Of The Books book for next year. It was a great read for our small group discussion and continued to expand on our learning about transgender related issues. Anna is currently reading it as well. 
The Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir Of Family And Culture In Crisis // One of my goals in reading generally is to read a variety of voices. I've heard of this book over the last few years and picked up the paperback version recently at Costco. As someone who places value on owning our individual stories, I really appreciated reading JD's recounting of his life experience so far growing up in Kentucky and Ohio. I especially liked some of the pieces towards the end when he talked a bit more about his perspective as an adult related to his own childhood trauma and how that informed some of the things he faced in his relationships as an adult. I found the book overall to be insightful and a good starting place for beginning to scratch the surface of understanding more about the struggle/story of poverty and class in America. Also, please note that when reading something along these lines I don't automatically assume that this is the experience of all people living in this area. 
Calypso (BOTM / Amazon) // Amazingly enough this was my first time reading David Sedaris. Not sure exactly why because I am definitively aware of who he is - I think maybe it’s because I don’t often read “funny” books (a gross, totally incomplete description of his stories). That said, I completely enjoyed this book and his writing style and can’t believe I have basically ignored his books up to this point. Real life stories about everyday life are a part of my passion - I will definitively read more from him soon. I laughed out loud, my heart ached, and I was captivated.
The Book Of Essie (BOTM / Amazon) // Devoured this book in a 24 hour period while traveling this past month and really enjoyed the story: interesting and captivating.
Crazy Rich Asians // Fun, silly, quick read. At the end you will likely want to get the next two books in the series to continue the story.
The Female Persuasion // I enjoyed it but felt like I had to force myself to finish it - I did want to know how it ended. I generally like this kind of story that spans a longer period of time where you get to see the characters develop and grow via the passage of time. I liked the themes of female mentorship and friendship and changes that we don't anticipate.

JULY 2018

The Last Time I Lied (BOTM / Amazon) // Super quick, page turner, and super enjoyable. Put aside anything that seems "not quit right" (I had some questions - ha) and just enjoy it for the fun read that it is.
Something In The Water // I was definitely into this one and devoured it quickly over the last couple of days. The story was all over the place + you might have to suspend disbelief at some points, but still enjoyable. I thought a lot about "unreliable" narrators as I was reading this one and I really did want to know how it was all going to end (was she just not very smart, unreliable, or some strange combination of both - ha). If you enjoy disliking the main character you might like this one (someone mentioned that on an Amazon review and it totally resonated for me).
The Outsider // I haven't read a lot of Stephen King over the years but I decided to try this new one out (his book "On Writing" is one of the best books about writing generally that I have read) just for some variety in my reading. I worried that it would be way too scary (it wasn't) and there were moments/parts where I was totally into it and others when I wasn't and felt like I was slogging along. I did feel like I had to push myself through to the end and kept waiting for there to be some additional, satisfying twist (there isn't). Solid read.

The Glass Castle // I started this one and am about 1/2 way through. 

AUGUST 2018

The Glass Castle // Finished this one (I had read about 1/2 of it in July). A hard but important memoir about growing up with very unconventional/dysfunctional parents and the resiliency of children. 
China Rich Girlfriend and  Rich People Problems // Finished these two quickly for my book club (we read  Crazy Rich Asians last month). This series isn't the kind of book I'm generally drawn to but I did want to know how it all ended and wanted to be able to chat with my friends about it at our book club dinner. I think these would be great vacation reads or for a time when you wanted something that wasn't complicated. 
Brave Love: Making Space For You To Be You by Lisa Leonard (coming June 2019 - preorder available on Amazon) // I was given early access to this book from the publisher with an invitation to write an endorsement. I've known Lisa for many years and was honored that she would give me the opportunity to read her book. I loved reading her story which was so much about allowing ourselves permission to be who we truly are - embracing all of it. 

SEPTEMBER 2018

The Arrangement // I read this one for my for my local Book Club this month (September). It was a super quick read (I read it while camping for Dave Matthews Band) and I liked it overall and know it will prove to be a great book club discussion. You know, from the cover, that their arrangement isn't going to work out but I was interested in reading how it all played out. The couple also has an autistic son so I was interested in seeing how he was portrayed as well. 
Cross Her Heart (BOTM) // This book started super slow and then it shifted. The second half kept my interest but when I was done I definitely felt like I was ready to take a break from this genre for awhile (suspense) - just feel like I'm craving something more. Overall just okay.
Florida by Lauren Groff // This is the first short story book I've read probably since college (at least since I can remember) and I really loved it. For some reason at this point in time the short format really worked for me. I love her writing style. I loved the richness of the characters. I loved the theme of "connection" that seemed to link a lot of the stories (both connection + disconnection). Super happy I picked this up when I visited Parnassus books in Nashville on my last visit.
Beartown // This book is for my local Book Club in October but I couldn't stop myself once I started this month. This will definitely be one of the best books I read this year. The story and the way he wrote the story was nuanced and human and real and complicated. Definite trigger warning regarding sexual assault. He also now has a follow-up book out called Us Against You (I downloaded it to read on my Kindle). 

You can also see everything I read in 2017 here.